Greatness by George Bernard Shaw
"Greatness" by George Bernard Shaw is a play that explores the concept of greatness and its relationship to power and influence. The story follows the life of Caesar, who rises from humble beginnings to become one of the most powerful men in Rome. Throughout the play, Shaw examines the nature of leadership and the ways in which individuals can use their positions of authority for good or ill.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1905 · Genre: Philosophical, Satire, Essay · 141 words
First lines
Greatness is only one of the sensations of littleness.
In heaven an angel is nobody in particular.
Greatness is the secular name for Divinity: both mean simply what lies beyond us.
If a great man could make us understand him, we should hang him.
What this Textopian page supports
Greatness is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical, Satire, Essay
- Length: 141 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Greatness by George Bernard Shaw
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Philosophical — Explores themes of greatness, divinity, and human perception.
- Satire — Critiques societal views on genius and divinity with irony.
- Essay — Structured as a reflective discourse on abstract concepts.
Tags
philosophy · success · achievement · ambition · leadership · inspiration · motivation · personal growth · self-improvement · human potential · wisdom · character