
To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.
quote by Edgar Allan Poe

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Sonnet: On Greatness
Greatness is not a thing, much like an art;
Some man turns great if on it he stumbles;
His greatness ceases, if he thinks, he's great;
Great is he truly who tho' great, humbles.
Greatness is not true greatness, self-proclaimed;
Greatness is not what world showers on us;
Greatness is neither got by being claimed.
Greatness is not achieved by making fuss.
Greatness could come if world decides to give;
Greatness will stay if God blesses our work;
Such greatness, God-destined comes while men live;
Greatness can grow even without much luck.
Greatness doesn't come to everyone on earth;
Some men are made great; some are great by birth.
poem by John Celes

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Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.
quote by Pierre Beaumarchais

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
quote by William Shakespeare

Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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If you would attain greatness, think no little thoughts.
0162 Greatness
How great is greatness? asks my questing soul:
scenting behind that quest, eternity;
that dark which, studied, lights the dazzling whole
and brings to finite thought, infinity;
as when great singers sing, all hearts can sing;
great dancers give us sense that all can dance;
great actors speak for all of us; we think
to know all painted greatness at one glance:
we know already, greatness' unfenced whole,
we know that boundless place, the human heart;
Creation is no secret to our soul;
all being sings its song in every part.
How glorious those sages who can see
in everything that lives, totality!
poem by Michael Shepherd

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From Where Shall I Greatness Buy?
Mom tells me to finish my homework quickly,
When I ask why? , she tells me
“You should become great as great as your dad”.
When I ask, where is my dad Mom?
She tells me, “He is now god’s guest.”
Again when I ask Mom,
“Can I not become great by being the god’s guest”?
She slaps me gently and tells me,
“Now just shut up and get your homework done”.
Little later when I ask she says,
“Your Dad fought like a tiger,
risking his life, he never bothered.
His gun has brought him greatness
and the honour of being the god’s guest.
Again when I ask,
“Do people become great when they fight”?
If so, I will beat in the school,
My friend Philip, with my might.”
Now, Mom calls me stupid and gives me a push.
Crying I go to sleep in her lap,
Now she says, “Tomorrow I will
give you pocket money for ice-cream”.
Wiping my eyes when I ask,
Mom! ”Can I by saving pocket money,
try greatness buy”?
Tell Mom, “From where shall I greatness buy”?
She tells, “Oh god help me”
and begins to cry.
poem by Dr. Sandeep Kumar Kar

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The man who is anybody and who does anything is surely going to be criticized, vilified, and misunderstood. That is part of the penalty for greatness, and every great man understands it; and understands, too, that it is no proof of greatness. The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure continously without resentment.
quote by Elbert Hubbard

Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The 'Potential' For Greatness IS There
If a greatness is indeed appreciated,
Wouldn't it take more than one to satiate the taste?
It would lessen the propaganda.
And the hype of it would not be faked.
'Well...
Okay.
Let me say...
The 'potential' for greatness is there.'
mmm...
That makes the taste of it easier to take,
Somehow.
That way,
My expectations aren't set so high.
And I can determine what is given,
More delicious than it is!
You get my point?
'I think so.
YOU want to determine,
The 'greatness'.
And when and 'if' that should be labelled as such!
Giving 'you' a purpose to encourage and spread the word.'
Of course.
I don't want to have it enforced.
I would think you would want my expectations to rise!
To declare something 'great'...
Leaves it to be criticized and opened to be downsized.
'Maybe we should hire you to do our marketing? '
Well...
As you yourself stated,
The 'potential' for greatness is there.
'I now can see,
The point you are making.
The potential for greatness 'IS' there.'
Exactly!
There is no need to overwhelm the message.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
quote by William Shakespeare

Submitted by Dan Costinaş
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Greatness
You want to be led to greatness.
You believe that it comes,
Without pain and sacrifice.
You perceive it to be a condition taught.
Something instructed or can be bought.
Something delivered upon your acceptance.
But no one known that is considered great...
Waited in anticipation to have it placed,
And presented on a plate as they safely ate!
Greatness isn't something someone takes.
Greatness is announced...
After someone has been trounced,
Through the trenches!
And 'remarkably' survives.
Surprising even the one who is stunned.
This was not a consideration,
In the mind of one who kept focused...
On what at the time,
Needed to be done!
And greatness was bestowed,
By what one did and showed!
Rising to heights,
Inspite of opposition!
And not submitting to a conformity,
That sits and seeks to be led!
Greatness is ahead of those,
Following!
Those feeding,
Upon wishes to be fed!
By that which has been left,
To nibble and taste...
From pioneering explorations!
In a desperation to succeed!
And most times discovered,
In disregard of danger!
In disregard...
Of blood one might bleed!
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

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Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness - great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.

Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness--great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
Edgar Allan Poe
An American literary icon but what caused his death none seem to know
He was more than a man of words the great Edgar Allan Poe
He died when in his forties his best writing years of him ahead
His fame has attained greatness and he is widely read.
Most writers in their forties have scarcely reached their writing prime
His marvellous poem 'The Raven' has not faded out in time
A writer for all ages and one of literary note
And many who love literature have him as their favourite poet.
In life he was quite famous in death greatness he did attain
As an immortal literary gem 'The Raven' does remain
In the English speaking Countries of the World from North to Southern shore
His writings remain popular and his readers now far more
Than he had in his lifetime his genius is living on
Whilst millions of his contemporaries to obscurity have gone
Despite the passing of time his literary legend grow
Though in his too brief life span few him did wish to know.
poem by Francis Duggan

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Each Of Us
we are as great as we think
we are
our greatness does not depend
on the greatness of
another
we are privileged to have taken
foot on this earth
we have, on this truth, already won,
there may be darkness
for those who were wise ahead of us
think that we live in this cave and we are but
shadows chained and blind to light
and bound
we are as great as we think we are
this is not an illusion neither is it just a proposition
this is the truth and this is the hope
keep on going
from the heart of this darkness
the mouth of awareness is not that really far
soon we shall be there
inside us the fire of life burns
warm as eternity
it is so alive like the breathing of the sea
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

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Words Are All I Have Tried To Make Greatness Out of
WORDS ARE ALL I HAVE TRIED TO MAKE GREATNESS OUT OF
I have no poem
I have only my own words
They are small
I am small
Life is great-
I am not great-
Words are all I have tried to make Greatness out of
I believe have failed.
poem by Shalom Freedman

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The Great Are at Par
A great scholar; a great sculptor
A great scientist; a great painter.
They are equal in their greatness.
Give them equal reverences.
(15.05.2011)
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar

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I Am Not A Great Poet
I AM NOT A GREAT POET
I am not a great Poet-
I am not a great Writer-
I am not a great Thinker-
I took my father’s dream
of Greatness-
But I did not realize it.
I
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Robert Frost
Robert Frost,
Your wisdom is great,
And you know all there is to know,
And we appreciate what you teach us.
To me, you are the grandfather I never had,
For you are great,
And you give great advice,
And you are wise,
And you seek the greatness in everyone.
You are a mentor to me and many others,
And your wisdom knows no bounds.
We cannot thank you enough
For the insight you have provided.
Thank you for everything you have done
And all the great poems you have left behind.
poem by James Roberts

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There Are Poets Whose Greatness
THERE ARE POETS WHOSE GREATNESS
There are poets whose Greatness
Makes my poetry seem
As if it is not Poetry at all.
What am I to do
If I am not really one
Of the great ones?
But one who loves far more
the work of others
Than his own?
poem by Shalom Freedman

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Our Own Greatness
We do not need kingdoms
To be kings, we do not need
Lands and money to be rich
And be powerful and be famous
And be great to the eyes of men
We only need our simple selves
At peace within our hearts
Admiring the greatness of God
And His Wondrous creations
We only need this humble humanity
Inside us always looking at the
Others’ mysteries always thinking
The true world beyond us on this journey
Our own greatness lies in our being ourselves
Knowing what we are and fulfilling the purpose
Of why we are here and what we are destined to be...there
poem by Ric S. Bastasa

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