William Shakespeare

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1. 
   playsthething Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   I think you're talking about "As You Like It" by Shakespeare.  In the play, there is a very famous speech ("Seven Ages of Man") by the character of Jaques that sounds somewhat like the lyrics you're describing.

   All the world's a stage,
   And all the men and women merely players;
   They have their exits and their entrances;
   And one man in his time plays many parts,
   His acts being seven ages...
   (II, vii)

   The monologue then goes on to describe those seven stages: Infant, Schoolboy, Lover, Soldier, Justice, Pantaloon, Second Childishnes.  Shakespeare provides terrific images for each of these stages.

   Sources:

   http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/Seven_Ages_Of...

   http://www.enotes.com/ayli/act-ii-scenes-6-7

   http://www.enotes.com/ayli/selected-quotes

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   Posted by playsthething on Tuesday September 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM
   
   

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