What is better - to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?
It depends what you mean by being good. What is your definition of "good"?
To be born evil and stay that way.
Much more fun!
I don’t think anyone is “born evil.” They might be born with challenges, but I think babies come in neither good nor bad. It’s their upbringing, things that happen in their lives, issues, challenges, their personalities, how they’re taught to hand struggle, whether or not they’re loved and accepted as they grow... I think those are the issues that face all humans. There may also be a biological component.
At some point, we flip a switch and become responsible, but all those things will play a part. I think anyone who can do good to others, and experience empathy and compassion has already done a significant amount of overcoming evil. But we’re simians learning to be ‘human.’ And none of us come with a manual.
I always liked this question from a philosophical stance. In the real world however I don't believe notions of good and evil are anything more than differing opinions.
One is no better than the other. Why would it matter?