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The Pathway to Leadership
By Livingston Alexander
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Malvolio is duped
into believing that he could do the improbable—rise above his
lowly rank of servant by marrying the countess, Olivia. A letter with
Olivia's forged signature is the instrument used to carry out the
malicious joke on Malvolio, and one memorable proclamation in that
letter gives power to Malvolio's ensuing self-delusion: "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 'em."
That memorable passage from Shakespeare's popular
romantic comedy gives a mere mocking reference to "greatness" in a
maliciously contrived context. However, a change in context and slight
adaptation in the passage enables a conclusion about the pathways
leaders take to leadership positions: "Some are born leaders, some
achieve leadership, and some have leadership thrust upon them." . .
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Excerpted from the winter 2008 issue of The
Presidency. To subscribe to the magazine, please call (301) 632-6757,
or order online through ACE’s
bookstore.
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