What do we mean when we say it today?
Shakespeare may have invented it, but Aldous Huxley put it on the map. He used this phrase for the title of his novel, Brave New World and had one of the characters, John the Savage, recite Miranda's lines in the novel. Huxley's best-known novel is now on syllabi and top 10 lists all over the world.
But the majority of the time we hear this phrase outside of literature class, it has nothing to do with Miranda's awakening sexuality or the dark sarcasm that comes with it. In fact, most of the time, it's really optimistic.
We use it to mean someone is embarking on a new challenge or adventure in his or her life. A world of possibility awaits. It might be new but it doesn't have to be frightening. Most of the time this phrase even comes with a sense of comfort or excitement. It's a brave new world. Go out into it. Go forth and conquer.