Fame has also this great drawback, that if we pursue it, we must direct our lives so as to please the fancy of men.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
It’s too bad I’m not as wonderful a person as people say I am, because the world could use a few people like that.
—Alan Alda (b.1936) American Actor, TV Personality, Screenwriter
What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.
—Desiderius Erasmus (c.1469–1536) Dutch Humanist, Scholar
Fame is like a shaved pig with a greased tail, and it is only after it has slipped through the hands of some thousands, that some fellow, by mere chance, holds on to it!
—Davy Crockett (1786–1836) American Frontiersman, Politician
I want to be famous everywhere.
—Luciano Pavarotti (1935–2007) Italian Musician
Fame is a constant effort
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
Fame is fickle and I know it. It has its compensations, but it also has its drawbacks and I’ve experienced them both.
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–62) American Actor, Model, Singer
Heartthrobs are a dime a dozen.
—Brad Pitt (b.1963) American Actor
Fame you get accustomed to, but if it ever takes possession of you, then quite clearly you’re in dead trouble.
—Richard Burton (1925–84) Welsh Actor
The wise man thinks of fame just enough to avoid being despised.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
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
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
Life is too short for theatrics, for face time, for jumping through hoops, for excuses, for blaming, for trying too hard to please others, or for chasing society’s illusion of distant riches or fame.
—Robert Cooper (b.1947) British Diplomat
It is the penalty of fame that a man must ever keep rising. — “Get a reputation, and then go to bed,” is the absurdest of all maxims. — “Keep up a reputation or go to bed,” would be nearer the truth.
—Edwin Hubbell Chapin (1814–80) American Preacher, Poet
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
I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers.
—William Tecumseh Sherman (1820–91) American Military Leader, Businessperson, Educator
If I’m such a legend, then why am I so lonely? Let me tell you, legends are all very well if you’ve got somebody around who loves you.
—Judy Garland (1922–69) American Actress, Singer
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
Life levels all men: death reveals the eminent.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Don’t abuse your friends and expect them to consider it criticism.
—Elizabeth Taylor (b.1932) English Actor, Activist
If fame is only to come after death, I am in no hurry for it.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
A sign of celebrity is often that their name is worth more than their services.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
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
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
Celerity is never more admired than by the negligent.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
The fame you earn has a different taste from the fame that is forced upon you.
—Gloria Vanderbilt (1924–2019) American Fashion Designer, Socialite
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
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
One thing about being successful is that I stopped being afraid of dying. Once you’re a star you’re dead already. You’re embalmed.
—Dustin Hoffman (b.1937) American Actor, Filmmaker
The highest form of vanity is love of fame.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures, and that is character.
—Horace Greeley (1811–72) American Elected Rep, Politician, Reformer, Editor
Celebrity-worship and hero-worship should not be confused. Yet we confuse them every day, and by doing so we come dangerously close to depriving ourselves of all real models. We lose sight of the men and women who do not simply seem great because they are famous but are famous because they are great. We come closer and closer to degrading all fame into notoriety.
—Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004) American Historian, Academic, Attorney, Writer
Glory follows virtue as if it were its shadow.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
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
What a heavy burden is a name that has too soon become famous.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
In the march up the heights of fame there comes a spot close to the summit in which man reads nothing but detective stories.
—Heywood Broun (1888–1939) American Journalist
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
After I’m dead I’d rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
I would much rather have men ask why I have no statue than why I have one.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
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 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
Let us not disdain glory too much; nothing is finer, except virtue. The height of happiness would be to unite both in this life.
—Francois-Rene de Chateaubriand (1768–1848) French Writer, Academician, Statesman
It is a short walk from the hallelujah to the hoot.
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977) Russian-born American Novelist
Fame will go by and, so long, I’ve had you, fame. If it goes by, I’ve always known it was fickle. So at least it’s something I experienced, but that’s not where I live.
—Marilyn Monroe (1926–62) American Actor, Model, Singer