What does 'I had as lief not be as live to be in awe of such a thing of myself' mean?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, that's some Shakespearean stuff right there! So, like, basically, it means the person would rather not exist than live in fear of their own greatness. It's like saying, "I'd rather not be alive than be intimidated by how awesome I am." So, you know, just your typical dramatic Shakespearean existential crisis.

Answer 2

The phrase "I had as lief not be as live to be in awe of such a thing of myself" can be interpreted as expressing a preference to not exist rather than live in fear or admiration of oneself. The speaker seems to be suggesting that they would rather not exist at all than to be in a state of self-doubt or self-admiration. This sentiment reflects a deep sense of internal conflict and perhaps a desire to escape from the complexities of self-awareness.

Answer 3

It helps if you get the quotation right. It's from Julius Caesar Act 1 Scene 2. Cassius says:

I had as lief not be as live to be

In awe of such a thing as I myself.

OK, first let's clear away the obsolete word. "I had as lief" means "I would rather". It also helps to put a comma after the "be" in the first line, so the first bit means "I would rather not be". The rest means "than live to be in awe of such a thing as I myself." "Such a thing as I myself" is such a thing as Cassius is, which is to say, a man. He is saying that he cannot feel awe for another man who is a man just as he is. In one sense, Cassius is an egalitarian, since he believes that all men, no matter who they are, should be regarded the same. And this conversation is heading directly for Caesar, who is indeed treated with awe by a lot of people. But Cassius says in this line that he would rather not be than be awed by Caesar, who is a man the same as he is.