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 surfeit of our own behavior,--we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains by 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 to the charge of a star.”
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 external forces for personal failings, avoiding responsibility for their own choices.
In simple terms: Blaming fate avoids self‑accountability.
Key Takeaway
Own your actions instead of blaming destiny.
Themes
responsibility
fate
self‑deception
Mood
tragic
reflective
Type
monologue
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- leadership failures
- relationship disputes
- ethical decision‑making
Key Concepts
determinism
personal agency
blame shifting
Questions to Reflect On
- What patterns of blame do you notice in your life?
- How can you shift from external to internal accountability?
A Different Perspective
External blame can prevent growth and learning from mistakes.