What's a good word that means extraordinariness or exceptional-ness?


I have a sentence that currently reads "All they want is to be extraordinary."


There's nothing wrong with that. I can certainly live with it. But what I want is a sentence in the form "All they want is 'extraordinariness.'"


Is there a good word for that in English? My vocabulary doesn't usually fail me so spectacularly.


In case it helps anyone, I'm writing an essay about the inevitable choice between dual mediocrities which characterises the identity of East German youth in Sonnenallee.


....I'm also writing it in German. So if anyone happens to know a word in German that doesn't necessarily have a good English translation, I'd be happy to learn of it (preferably in a comment.) :)



Answer



I think the word you are looking for is greatness.


Shakespeare in Twelfth Night coined what is probably the most famous usage of this word



Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.



Edit: You could also try exceptionality, but that is somewhat odd sounding, not very common, and in my opinion nowhere near as great as greatness.


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