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
Spring is a natural resurrection, an experience in immortality.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American 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
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
The thirst for an enduring fame is near akin to the love of true excellence; but the fame of the moment is a dangerous possession and a bastard motive; and he who does his acts in order that the echo of them may come back as a soft music in his ears, plays false to his noble destiny as a Christian man, places himself in continual danger of dallying with wrong, and taints even his virtuous actions at their source.
—William Ewart Gladstone (1809–98) English Liberal Statesman, Prime Minister
It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
It is a mark of many famous people that they cannot part with their brightest hour.
—Lillian Hellman (1905–84) American Playwright, Dramatist, Memoirist
The fame of great men ought to be judged always by the means they used to acquire it.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Fame is the inheritance not of the dead, but of the living. It is we who look back with lofty pride to the great names of antiquity.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Each man has his appointed day: short and irreparable in the brief life of all, but to extend our fame by our deeds, this is the work of mankind.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Human life is too short to recompense the cares which attend the most private condition: therefore it is, that our souls are made, as it were, too big for it; and extend themselves in the prospect of a longer existence, in good fame, and memory of worthy actions, after our decease.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
It’s all fleeting. As fame is fleeting, so are all the trappings of fame fleeting. The money, the clothes, the furniture.
—Johnny Cash (1932–2003) American Country Music Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist
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
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
How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens.
—Lucan (Marcus Annaeus Lucanus) (39–65 CE) Roman Statesman, Latin Poet
I awoke one morning and found myself famous.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
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
Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
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
He that pursues fame with just claims, trusts his happiness to the winds; but he that endeavors after it by false merit, has to fear, not only the violence of the storm, but the leaks of his vessel.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
In fame’s temple there is always to be found a niche for rich dunces, importunate scoundrels, or successful butchers of the human race.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
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
Fame is not the glory; virtue is the goal, and fame only a messenger to bring more to the fold.
—Vanna Bonta (1958–2014) Italian-American Novelist, Poet, Actress
There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
Fame is a constant effort
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
No memory of having starred atones for later disregard, or keeps the end from being hard.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
The highest form of vanity is love of fame.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
The strongest poison ever known came from Caesar’s laurel crown.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
The present condition of fame is merely fashion.
—G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936) English Journalist, Novelist, Essayist, Poet
To get a name can happen but to few: it is one of the few things that cannot be bought.—It is the free gift of mankind, which must be deserved before it will be granted, and is at last unwillingly bestowed.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Fame is an illusive thing—here today, gone tomorrow. The fickle, shallow mob raises its heroes to the pinnacle of approval today and hurls them into oblivion tomorrow at the slightest whim; cheers today, hisses tomorrow; utter forgetfulness in a few months.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
In Hollywood now when people die they don’t say, “Did he leave a will?” but “Did he leave a diary?”
—Liza Minnelli (b.1946) American Singer, Actress
Passion for fame: A passion which is the instinct of all great souls.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
The way to fame is like the way to heaven, through much tribulation.
—Laurence Sterne (1713–68) Irish Anglican Novelist, Clergyman
One gains fame by hook or by crook.
—Anonymous
Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
May the countryside and the gliding valley streams content me. Lost to fame, let me love river and woodland.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
When God lets loose a great thinker on this planet, then all things are at risk. There is not a piece of science but its flank may be turned tomorrow; nor any literary reputation or the so-called eternal names of fame that may not be refused and condemned.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I am not concerned that I am not known, I seek to be worthy to be known.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
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
Oblivion is the rule, and fame the exception of humanity.
—Antoine de Rivarol (1753–1801) French Writer, Epigrammatist
The fame you earn has a different taste from the fame that is forced upon you.
—Gloria Vanderbilt (1924–2019) American Fashion Designer, Socialite
All the fame you should look for in life is to have lived it quietly.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Fame—a few words upon a tombstone, and the truth of those not to be depended on.
—Christian Nestell Bovee (1820–1904) American Writer, Aphorist
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