The vulgar and common esteem is seldom happy in hitting right; and I am much mistaken, if, amongst the writings of my time, the worst are not those which have most gained the popular applause.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
A generous nation is grateful even for the preservation of its rights, and willingly extends the respect due to the office of a good prince into an affection for his person.
—Junius Unidentified English Writer
Be as far from desiring the popular love as fearful to deserve the popular hate; ruin dwells in both; the one will hug thee to death; the other will crush thee to destruction: to escape the first, be not ambitious; avoid the second, be not seditious.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures, and that is character.
—Horace Greeley (1811–72) American Journalist, Author
Everybody’s private motto: It’s better to be popular than right.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
I would jump down Etna for any public good—but I hate a mawkish popularity.
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
It is not so difficult a task to plant new truths as to root out old errors; for there is this paradox in men,—they run after that which is new, but are prejudiced in favor of that which is old.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Popularity is one insult I have never suffered.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I have never wished to cater to the crowd; for what I know they do not approve, and what they approve I do not know.
—Epicurus (c.341–270 BCE) Greek Philosopher
To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Satirist, Short Story Writer
By common consent of all the nations and all the ages the most valuable thing in this world is the homage of men, whether deserved or undeserved.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
The love of popularity seems little else than the love of being beloved; and is onty blamable when a person aims at the affections of a people by means in appearance honest, but in their end pernicious and destructive.
—William Shenstone (1714–63) British Poet, Landscape Gardener
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
The one who pleased everybody died before they were born.
—Common Proverb
As inclination changes; thus ebbs and flows the unstable tide of public judgment.
—Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805) German Poet, Dramatist
Avoid popularity if you would have peace.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
What most people in our culture mean by being lovable is essentially a mixture between being popular and having sex appeal.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
Popularity is glory’s small change.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Avoid popularity; it has many snares, and no real benefit.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Philosopher, Political Leader
You are not in business to be popular.
—Kirstie Alley (1951–2022) American Actress
Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I’ve given parties that have made Indian rajahs green with envy. I’ve had prima donnas break $10,000 engagements to come to my smallest dinners. When you were still playing button back in Ohio, I entertained on a cruising trip that was so much fun that I had to sink my yacht to make my guests go home.
—Unknown
The great secrets of being courted, are, to shun others and to seem delighted with yourself.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
I put no account on him who esteems himself just as the popular breath may chance to raise him.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Seek not the favor of the multitude; it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of the few: and number not voices, but weigh them.
—Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) Prussian German Philosopher, Logician
We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.
—Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916) Austrian Novelist
Applause waits on success.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Popularity is the easiest thing in the world to gain and it is the hardest thing to hold.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
He cast off his friends as a huntsman his pack, for he knew when he pleased he could whistle them back.
—Oliver Goldsmith (1730–74) Irish Novelist, Playwright, Poet
Popularity is the only insult that has not yet been offered to Mr. Whistler.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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