Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them

Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them

In William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night," the character Malvolio famously declares, "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." This quote encapsulates a central theme in many of Shakespeare's works - the idea that greatness is not solely determined by birth or circumstance, but by one's actions and choices.

Throughout Shakespeare's plays, we see characters who are born into positions of power and privilege, such as kings and queens, who ultimately fail to live up to their potential. On the other hand, there are characters who start off as commoners or even outcasts, but through their courage, determination, and moral integrity, they are able to achieve greatness. One of the most famous examples of this is the character of Hamlet, who is born into royalty but must grapple with his own internal struggles and moral dilemmas in order to fulfill his destiny.