In William Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night: Act 2, Scene 5, the following words are used, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." This specific line is used to tell the spectators that each persons' destiny awaits him or her. Also, people should accept their destiny in both body and spirit.

Overall, this line from the Twelfth Night is spoken by Malvolio, and it is a truly serious statement regarding the religious status of England, which problem eventually started a civil war.

Malvolio is making the point that he has been forced into doing things that he would rather not be required to do. But, because of his religious conscience, he intentionally has performed the required deeds. Here, he is trying to say that he is having to do what someone else (who may have been more competent) should have done.

Malvolio seems to believe that he will become great ("achieve greatness") because he is bold enough to do what he feels must be done. In spite of the fact that he was belittled, even called a madman, he did what he felt in the end was the only proper thing to do.

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