"But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on"

Francis Bacon's quote, "But men should know, that in this theatre of male's life it is reserved just for God and angels to be lookers on", is an extensive meditation on the nature of human presence and the functions that various entities play in the unfolding drama of life. In this metaphor, Bacon compares human life to a theatre, where numerous stars (humans) play their parts. The "theatre" recommends that life is performative, vibrant, and based on observation and judgment.

Bacon implies that human beings are active individuals who should engage with the complexities and responsibilities of life. Unlike God and angels, human beings can not merely observe life from a separated perspective; they are obliged to act, make choices, and affect the course of their own lives and those of others. This highlights the human condition as one of engagement, accountability, and the need of navigating moral and ethical landscapes.

The recommendation to "God and angels" as the only "lookers on" serves to advise us of the constraints intrinsic in human perspective and understanding. God and angels, in numerous doctrinal customs, are seen as possessing omniscience or increased awareness, efficient in perceiving the grand tapestry of presence in ways that people can not. Their role as observers suggests a magnificent oversight or a celestial audience to the human drama, highlighting themes of fate, providence, and the supreme judgment of human actions.

Additionally, Bacon's words can be translated as an admonition to humbleness and recognition of one's place on the planet. Human beings, unlike magnificent beings, are bound within the constraints of time, space, and mortality, and should therefore compete with unpredictability, strife, and the requirement of making value-laden decisions. In comprehending this, Bacon welcomes reflection on the duties of human agency and the inherent self-respect of actively participating in the journey of life.

In summary, Bacon's metaphor is a call to acknowledge the active function humans must play in their own stories, while acknowledging the universal observation of greater powers, prompting one to act with moral stability and purpose.