--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The shields were enormous. In 'Julius…" description: "\"The shields were enormous. In 'Julius Caesar,' I died early in the scene and used to fall asleep under the shield until I was woken up by applause.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/roger-rees-8378_applause_the-shields-were-enormous-in-julius-caes_1661386.jpg" --- # The shields were enormous. In 'Julius Caesar,' I died… ![“The shields were enormous. In 'Julius Caesar,' I died early in the scene and used to fall asleep under the shield until I was woken up by applause.” quote by Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/roger-rees-8378_applause_the-shields-were-enormous-in-julius-caes_1661386.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/roger-rees-8378_applause_the-shields-were-enormous-in-julius-caes_1661386.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5d/roger-rees-8378_applause_the-shields-were-enormous-in-julius-caes_1661386.jpg) > “The shields were enormous. In 'Julius Caesar,' I died early in the scene and used to fall asleep under the shield until I was woken up by applause.” [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He humorously recalls a minor role where he fell asleep on stage, only to be revived by audience applause, reflecting on theatrical life. **In simple terms:** An actor’s brief, unnoticed moments can still earn applause. Key Takeaway Embrace every role, big or small. Themes theatre humor performance Mood playful reflective Type anecdotal theatrical When to use this quote - rehearsals - live performances - acting workshops Key Concepts stagecraft audience reaction Questions to Reflect On - How does an actor find meaning in small parts? - What does applause reveal about audience expectations? A Different Perspective Audience applause may be fleeting and unpredictable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Asleep Shield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asleep-shield-763152/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Enormous Julius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enormous-julius-763151/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/julius-caesar/) [Scene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scene/) [Shield Woken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shield-woken-763150/) [Shields Enormous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shields-enormous-763149/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) ## Related quotes > [We did a black 'Julius Caesar' in which the predominant accent was Caribbean. This offends many people, you know. I also had a Chinese…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/we-did-a-black-julius-caesar-in-which-the-predominant-accent-was/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I was nine. I saw Orson Welles in 'Julius Caesar.' It was involving, emotional, imaginative. I've never forgotten it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-prince/i-was-nine-i-saw-orson-welles-in-julius-caesar-it-was-involving/) [Harold Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-prince/) > [“Julius Caesar is an ambivalent study of civil conflict. As in Richard II, the play is structured around two protagonists rather than one. Cesar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bevington/julius-caesar-is-an-ambivalent-study-of-civil-conflict-as-in-richard/) [David Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bevington/) > [“I expect Julius Caesar's actual words not only lacked poignancy but were likely unmentionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-bolen/i-expect-julius-caesar-s-actual-words-not-only-lacked-poignancy-but/) [Cheryl Bolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-bolen/) > [“p. 274 ...his trademark decision to surrender power as commander in chief and then president, was not...a sign that he had conquered his ambitions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-ellis/p-274-his-trademark-decision-to-surrender-power-as-commander-in-chief/) [Joseph J. Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-ellis/) > [“when meeting someone, our brains are in overdrive. Remember Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar? He said of Cassius, he "has a lean and hungry look .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leil-lowndes/when-meeting-someone-our-brains-are-in-overdrive-remember-shakespeare/) [Leil Lowndes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leil-lowndes/) > [Mere opinions, in fact, were as likely to govern people's actions as hard evidence, and were subject to sudden reversals as hard evidence could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/mere-opinions-in-fact-were-as-likely-to-govern-people-s-actions-as/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“What did you enact? POLONIUS: I did enact Julius Caesar; I was kill'd i' the Capitol; Brutus killed me. HAMLET: It was a brute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-did-you-enact-polonius-i-did-enact-julius-caesar-i-was-kill-d-i/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The Canadian version of Julius Caesar's memoirs? I came, I saw, I coped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/the-canadian-version-of-julius-caesar-s-memoirs-i-came-i-saw-i-coped/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [I still remember the moment when my teacher, Mr. Budaza, walked into class and said, 'Today we are going to study 'Julius Caesar,' one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-still-remember-the-moment-when-my-teacher-mr-budaza-walked-into/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [“Some gay soldiers and officers, particularly those with a college education, carried with them a mythology, developed from reading the classics and in conversations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-b-rub/some-gay-soldiers-and-officers-particularly-those-with-a-college/) [Allan Bérubé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-b-rub/) > [I have seen productions of Julius Caesar that set it in a modern, Western context and it just looks as though they're getting rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-doran/i-have-seen-productions-of-julius-caesar-that-set-it-in-a-modern/) [Gregory Doran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-doran/) > [All democracies turn into dictatorships - but not by coup. The people give their democracy to a dictator, whether it's Julius Caesar or Napoleon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/all-democracies-turn-into-dictatorships-but-not-by-coup-the-people/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [Homer, Hesiod, Pythagoras, Plato, and Cicero, just to name a few, all lived in pagan societies. Some of the greatest political and military leaders…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-myers/homer-hesiod-pythagoras-plato-and-cicero-just-to-name-a-few-all-lived/) [Brendan Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-myers/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by Roger Rees > [No lens is quick enough to track the movement of the human body. The molecules are always moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/no-lens-is-quick-enough-to-track-the-movement-of-the-human-body-the/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > ['Nicholas Nickleby' was the best example, where 43 people could make an audience of 1,500 look at a fingernail at any given moment. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/nicholas-nickleby-was-the-best-example-where-43-people-could-make-an/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [My first acquaintance with 'Peter Pan' was back when I lived in South London. I was at art school, and I needed to earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/my-first-acquaintance-with-peter-pan-was-back-when-i-lived-in-south/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I've often thought I'm a short music hall comedian stuck in a leading man's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-ve-often-thought-i-m-a-short-music-hall-comedian-stuck-in-a-leading/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [The loser, the fool, is embraced in England because there is a recognition of silliness there that allows a person to keep his ambitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/the-loser-the-fool-is-embraced-in-england-because-there-is-a/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Sometimes the most excruciating experiences in rehearsals and performances yield the most beautiful work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/sometimes-the-most-excruciating-experiences-in-rehearsals-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Rattigan's world demanded unwavering trust in principles, loyalty, and virtue. At the time of this play - Rattigan was writing this play in 1947…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/rattigan-s-world-demanded-unwavering-trust-in-principles-loyalty-and/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Everything happens every night for this audience, and it's a very special occasion to come to the theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/everything-happens-every-night-for-this-audience-and-it-s-a-very/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Some of the finest Shakespeare has been done recently by college theater programs. I'll tell you what these young kids have: They have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/some-of-the-finest-shakespeare-has-been-done-recently-by-college/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Anything I do is as theatrical as I can get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/anything-i-do-is-as-theatrical-as-i-can-get-it/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [When it was announced I had won the Tony Award, I was in Bangkok doing a movie with Judi Dench. I remember coming back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/when-it-was-announced-i-had-won-the-tony-award-i-was-in-bangkok-doing/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [Now, of course, we know there has been an end to apartheid in South Africa, but what excited me was seeing it in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/now-of-course-we-know-there-has-been-an-end-to-apartheid-in-south/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I am an anthologist, you see. I sort of make anthologies for people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-am-an-anthologist-you-see-i-sort-of-make-anthologies-for-people/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [If you live in the States, you have to join a gym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/if-you-live-in-the-states-you-have-to-join-a-gym/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) > [I do one thing Gielgud didn't: I play the ukulele.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rees/i-do-one-thing-gielgud-didn-t-i-play-the-ukulele/) [Roger Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) [Explore all 81 Roger Rees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rees/) ## More Applause quotes > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/) [Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/) > [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/) [Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/) > [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) > [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/) [Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/) > [“A magician must always value his magic effects more than himself, because after few years audience may not remember his name but they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-magician-must-always-value-his-magic-effects-more-than-himself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/) [Ruth Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-brown/) > [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/) [Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/) > [You can copy, but hold the applause you get the satisfaction of mind can not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-can-copy-but-hold-the-applause-you-get-the-satisfaction-of-mind/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/) [Oem Software Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oem-software-buy/) [Browse all 556 Applause quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The shields were enormous. 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