Here is an entertaining article about the famous quote “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” from Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night:
“The Three Paths to Greatness, According to the Bard”
If there’s one thing Shakespeare knew, it’s that the road to greatness is a winding one, full of unexpected twists and turns. In his beloved comedy Twelfth Night, the Bard lays out three distinct paths to achieving that lofty status we all aspire to – greatness.
The quote in question comes from a letter that the lovesick servant Malvolio discovers, which he believes was written by his mistress Olivia, though it was actually penned by the mischievous Maria to play a trick on him. In the letter, Maria writes: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
So what exactly does the Bard mean by these three distinct routes to greatness? Let’s break it down:
1. Born Great
This one’s pretty straightforward – some people are just born with that special something that sets them apart from the masses. Whether it’s unparalleled talent, stunning good looks, or just an innate charisma, these are the folks who seem to have greatness thrust upon them from the moment they enter this world. Think child prodigies, aristocratic rulers, or Hollywood superstars – their path to greatness was paved before they could even walk.
2. Achieve Greatness
For the rest of us mere mortals, greatness is something that must be earned through hard work, perseverance, and sheer force of will. These are the people who start from humble beginnings and climb their way to the top through grit and determination. The self-made entrepreneurs, the scrappy underdogs who defy the odds, the artists who toil for years before finding success – they are the embodiment of this second path to greatness.
3. Have Greatness Thrust Upon Them
And then there are those who stumble into greatness, often quite by accident. These are the people who find themselves unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight, whether through a lucky break, a twist of fate, or the machinations of others (like poor Malvolio and his forged love letter). Their greatness is not of their own making, but rather something that is bestowed upon them, for better or for worse.
So which path is the “right” one? Well, that’s the beauty of Shakespeare’s insight – there is no single road to greatness. It can come naturally, it can be earned, or it can be thrust upon us, and each journey has its own unique challenges and rewards.
The broader significance of this quote extends far beyond the confines of Twelfth Night. It speaks to the fundamental randomness and unpredictability of human experience, and the many different ways in which we can leave our mark on the world. It’s a reminder that greatness is not the exclusive domain of the elite or the extraordinary, but something that can manifest in the most unexpected of places.
Whether you’re born with a silver spoon in your mouth or you’re scraping your way up from the bottom, whether you’re the master of your own destiny or at the mercy of forces beyond your control – the path to greatness is always there, waiting to be discovered. All you have to do is have the courage to walk it.
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