This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we…
““This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of our own behavior) we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on. An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star! My father compounded with my mother under the Dragon's tail, and my nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it follows I am rough and lecherous. I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
People blame celestial forces for personal flaws, using astrology to excuse wrongdoing instead of taking responsibility.
In simple terms: Blaming stars for bad behavior.
Key Takeaway
Own your actions, not the stars.
Themes
responsibility
astrology
human nature
Mood
reflective
humorous
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal reflection
- education
- critical thinking
- ethical discussions
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
literary satire
philosophical humor
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you ever attribute failures to external forces?
- How can we encourage personal accountability?
A Different Perspective
Astrology offers comfort but avoids accountability.