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

Source: Twelfth-Night [1601–1602], II, v, l. 159 Additional Information: This famous Shakespeare quote is from the playwright's comedy Twelfth Night, believed to have been written in 1601 or 1602. The quote means that people can come by success in a variety of ways -- by being born into a successful family, by working hard to earn success, or by having it bestowed upon them by an outside person or circumstance. In the context of the play, these words are written in a letter meant to trick the character Malvolio into doing ridiculous things.