“ Be not afraid of greatness. ”
 William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night (1623). copy citation

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Author William Shakespeare
Source Twelfth Night
Topic fear greatness
Date 1623
Language English
Reference
Note Written between 1601 and 1602
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1526/pg1526-images.html

Context

“M, O, A, I;—This simulation is not as the former:—and yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for every one of these letters are in my name. Soft; here follows prose.— 'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. 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 them. Thy fates open their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them. And, to inure thyself to what thou art like to be, cast thy humble slough and appear fresh.” source

Meaning and analysis

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