HELENA: There is no living, none,
If Bertram be away. ’Twere all one
That I should love a bright particular star
And think to wed it, he is so above me.
In his bright radiance and collateral light
Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.
Th’ ambition in my love thus plagues itself:
The hind that would be mated by the lion
Must die for love.William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 89ff (1.1.89-97) (1602?)
(Source)
Quotations about:
station
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
O let us love our occupations,
Bless the squire and his relations,
Live upon our daily rations,
And always know our proper stations.Charles Dickens (1812–1870) English writer and social critic
The Chimes, “The Second Quarter” (1844)
MALVOLIO: 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.
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Twelfth Night, Act 2, Sc. 5, l. 147ff (2.5.147–150) (1601)
(Source)
The phrase appears three times in the play:This was parodied in Joseph Heller, Catch-22, ch. 9 (1955), writing regarding Major Major: “Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.” See also Boorstin.
- As above, Malvolio reading the forged love letter he thinks is from Olivia.
- Act 3, sc. 4, l. 42ff, Malvolio recalling the phrases from the letter.
- Act 5, sc. 1, l. 393ff, the Fool reciting the second half of the phrase.
