His genius as a playwright and a bard (poet as they were then called) is undisputed. Doubtless the greatest the world has ever seen. His range of subject covered the whole spectrum of human experience. The historical and the romantic; the tragic and the comedic; military conquest and ignominious defeat, philosophy and farce.
One phrase probably sums up the range of his thought.
"All the world's a stage. All the men and women are but players."
There are hundreds of quotable quotes but let me pass on to you some of Shakespeare's musings upon God.
"God has given you a face and you make yourself another."
"Let never day nor night unhallowed pass but still remember what the Lord hath done."
"Ignorance is a curse of God. Knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven."
"A politician... one who would circumvent (get around) God."
"Tis mad idolatry to make thy service greater than thy God."
"However wickedness outstrips men, it has no wings to fly from God."
"God is our fortress in whose conquering name we resolve to scale their flinty bulwarks."
"But thou proud man, dressed in brief authority and ignorant of what thou are most assured, playeth such fantastic tricks under Heaven as maketh angels weep."
And upon that line I do take a bow and make mine exit!
Jubilate.
Ian
