It is a short walk from the hallelujah to the hoot.
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) Russian-born American Novelist
The longer a man’s fame is likely to last, the longer it will be in coming.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
I want to be famous everywhere.
—Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) Italian Operatic Tenor
Fame is no sure test of merit, but only a probability of such, it is an accident, not a property of man.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of non-violence to coyer impotence.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Worldly fame is but a breath of wind that blows now this way, and now that, and changes name as it changes direction.
—Dante Alighieri (1265–1321) Italian Poet, Philosopher
My biggest nightmare is I’m driving home and get sick and go to hospital. I say: ‘Please help me.’ And the people say: ‘Hey, you look like…’ And I’m dying while they’re wondering whether I’m Barbra Streisand.
—Barbra Streisand (b.1942) American Musician, Actor, Songwriter
My great comfort is, that the temporary celebrity I have wrung from the world has been in the very teeth of all opinions and prejudices. I have flattered no ruling powers; I have never concealed a single thought that tempted me.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
Fame and power are the objects of all men. Even their partial fruition is gained by very few; and that, too, at the expense of social pleasure, health, conscience, life.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
In accumulating property for ourselves or our posterity, in founding a family or a state, or acquiring fame even, we are mortal; but in dealing with truth we are immortal, and need fear no change nor accident.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
I am not covetous for gold; but if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The way to fame is like the way to heaven, through much tribulation.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
Death makes no conquest of this conqueror: For now he lives in fame, though not in life.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Much of reputation depends on the period in which it rises.—In dark periods, when talents appear, they shine like the sun through a small hole in the window-shutter, and the strong beam dazzles amid the surrounding gloom.—open the shutter, and the general diffusion of light attracts no notice.
—Hugh Walpole (1884–1941) English Novelist, Short Story Writer, Dramatist
Few people make much noise after their deaths who did not do so while living.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
I won’t be happy till I’m as famous as God.
—Madonna (b.1958) American Pop Singer, Actress
What a heavy burden is a name that has too soon become famous.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy, and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
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
The highest form of vanity is love of fame.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Who would wish to be among the commonplace crowd of the little famous—who are each individually lost in a throng made up of themselves?
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
One gains fame by hook or by crook.
—Anonymous
No true and permanent fame can be founded except in labors which promote the happiness of mankind.
—Charles Sumner (1811–74) American Lawyer, Statesman
Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Glory is like a circle in the water, which never ceaseth to enlarge itself, till, by broad spreading, it disperse to naught.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. I don’t want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment.
—Woody Allen (b.1935) American Film Actor, Director
A sign of celebrity is often that their name is worth more than their services.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney
Leave a Reply