The truth is that the spectators are always in their senses, and know, from the first act to the last, that the stage is only a stage, and that the players are only players.
William Shakespeare, George Steevens, Samuel Johnson, Alexander Pope, Mr Theobald (Lewis) (1805). “Dedication of the players. Preface of the players. Pope's preface. Theobald's preface. Hanmer's preface. Warburton's preface. Johnson's preface. Advertisement by Steevens. Capell's”, p.112
