Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.
—Doris Lessing (1919–2013) British Novelist, Poet
Wood burns because it has the proper stuff in it; and a man becomes famous because he has the proper stuff in him.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The love of glory gives an immense stimulus.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
If fame is only to come after death, I am in no hurry for it.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
The highest form of vanity is love of fame.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Immortality is not a gift, Immortality is an achievement; And only those who strive mightily Shall possess it.
—Edgar Lee Masters (1869–1950) American Poet, Novelist
Of all the possessions of this life, fame is the noblest; when the body has sunk into the dust the great name still lives.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
An earthly immortality belongs to a great and good character.—History embalms it; it lives in its moral influence, in its authority, in its example, in the memory of its words and deeds.
—Edward Everett (1794–1865) American Politician, Scholar
I want to be famous everywhere.
—Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) Italian Operatic Tenor
Fame is an undertaker that pays but little attention to the living, but bedizens the dead, furnishes out their funerals, and follows them to the grave.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The stars are the apexes of what triangles!
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
I must say, I don’t feel very qualified to be a pop star. I feel very awkward at times in the role.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance with him; and we seldom hear of a celebrated person without a catalogue of some of his weaknesses and infirmities.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Don’t abuse your friends and expect them to consider it criticism.
—Elizabeth Taylor (1932–2011) British-born American Actress
Folly loves the martyrdom of fame.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Vain ambition of kings
Who seek by trophies and dead things
To leave a living name behind,
And weave but nets to catch the wind.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
If you modestly enjoy your fame you are not unworthy to rank with the holy.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
I courted fame but as a spur to brave and honest deeds; who despises fame wil soon renounce the virtues that deserve it.
—David Mallet (c.1705–1765) Scottish Poet, Dramatist
It is an indiscreet and troublesome ambition that cares so much about fame; about what the world says of us; to be always looking in the faces of others for approval; to be always anxious about the effect of what we do or say; to be always shouting to hear the echoes of our own voices.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
There is only one way to get ready for immortality, and that is to love this life and live it as bravely and faithfully and cheerfully as we can.
—Henry van Dyke Jr. (1852–1933) American Author, Educator, Clergyman
Time hath a wallet at his back, wherein he puts. Alms for oblivion, a great-sized monster of ingratitudes.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
People should realize we’re jerks just like them.
—Edward de Bono (1933–2021) Maltese-British Psychologist, Writer
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Glory is largely a theatrical concept. There is no striving for glory without a vivid awareness of an audience.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Much more frequent in Hollywood than the emergence of Cinderella is her sudden vanishing. At our party, even in those glowing days, the clock was always striking twelve for someone at the height of greatness; and there was never a prince to fetch her back to the happy scene.
—Ben Hecht (1894–1964) American Screenwriter, Playwright
Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swollen, and drowns things weighty and solid.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Being at the center of a film is a burden one takes on with innocence—the first time. Thereafter, you take it on with trepidation.
—Daniel Day-Lewis (b.1957) English Actor
It quite often happens. A man bounds into sudden success, becomes obsessed by vanity, builds or buys a palace-and then has to close up the palace. The latest example is Clarence Saunders, who founded the Piggly Wiggly stores, launched a company, gathered in a lot of money, started building a million dollar home, tried to fight Wall Street at its own game of speculating in stocks, gloried in having cornered his stock, lost out, and now makes this announcement concerning his palace now under construction at Memphis: “I am going to nail up the place and lock the gates until I can make the money to complete it”.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Humorist, Radio Personality
Not to know me argues yourselves unknown.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater