The best-concerted schemes men lay for fame,
Die fast away: only themselves die faster.
The far-fam'd sculptor, read more

The best-concerted schemes men lay for fame,
Die fast away: only themselves die faster.
The far-fam'd sculptor, and the laurell'd bard,
Those bold insurancers of deathless fame,
Supply their little feeble aids in vain.

The fame you earn has a different taste from the fame that is forced upon you.

The fame you earn has a different taste from the fame that is forced upon you.

All your renown is like the summer flower that blooms and dies;
because the sunny glow which brings it read more

All your renown is like the summer flower that blooms and dies;
because the sunny glow which brings it forth, soon slays with
parching power.
[It., La vostra nominanza e color d'erba,
Che viene e va; e quei la discolora
Per cui ell' esce della terra acerba.]

It's too bad I'm not as wonderful a person as people say I am, because the world could use a read more

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.

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.

Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.

Were not this desire of fame very strong, the difficulty of
obtaining it, and the danger of losing it read more

Were not this desire of fame very strong, the difficulty of
obtaining it, and the danger of losing it when obtained, would be
sufficient to deter a man from so vain a pursuit.

Even the best things are not equal to their fame.

Even the best things are not equal to their fame.

Fame is proof that people are gullible.

Fame is proof that people are gullible.

If you come to fame not understanding who you are, it will define who you are.

If you come to fame not understanding who you are, it will define who you are.