Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."

From Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

This is another Shakespeare quote that works well enough as a stand-alone mantra, but wasn't originally said in earnest. It's written in a letter to Malvolio, an egotistical and obnoxiously self-righteous character who shuns anything fun. It's meant to stroke his already huge ego. The lines are repeated by Feste at the end of the play, in a mocking tone. Whether or not the Bard thought these words to be genuinely wise on their own is, of course, debatable, but we're willing to bet that he's poking fun at how grandiose the expression sounds.