So oft it chances…

Hamlet, Act I, Scen

So oft it chances in particular men,
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As, in their birth — wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin —
By the o’ergrowth of some complexion,
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o’er-leavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men,
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature’s livery, or fortune’s star, —
Their virtues else — be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo —
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault…

Thus begins Laurence Olivier’s film of Hamlet (1948). And then Larry screws everything up by following the speech with these words: “This is the tragedy of a man…who could not make up his mind.” No, Larry…it’s not.