William Shakespeare on Greatness
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“Are yet two Romans living such as these? The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!”
“But thou art fair, and at thy birth, dear boy, Nature and Fortune join'd to make thee great.”
“They that stand high have many blasts to shake them; And if they fall, they dash themselves to pieces.”
“Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.”
“I have touched the highest point of all my greatness: And, from that full meridian of my glory, I haste now to my setting.”
“In my stars I am above thee, but be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”
“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus, and we petty men Walk under his huge legs and peep about To find ourselves dishonorable graves.”
“Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness! This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him: The third day comes a frost, a killing frost, And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root, And then he falls, as I do.”