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.

What is the end of Fame? 'tis but to fill
A certain portion of uncertain paper:
Some read more

What is the end of Fame? 'tis but to fill
A certain portion of uncertain paper:
Some liken it to climbing up a hill,
Whose summit, like all hills, is lost in vapour:
For this men write, speak, preach, and heroes kill,
And bards burn what they call their "midnight taper,"
To have, when the original is dust,
A name, a wretched picture, and worse bust.

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument
than why I have one.

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument
than why I have one.

And what after all is everlasting fame? Altogether vanity.

And what after all is everlasting fame? Altogether vanity.

If fame is only to come after death, I am in no hurry for it.

If fame is only to come after death, I am in no hurry for it.

Fame is proof that people are gullible.

Fame is proof that people are gullible.

Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a
probability of such: it is an read more

Fame, we may understand, is no sure test of merit, but only a
probability of such: it is an accident, not a property of a man.

A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to read more

A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognised.

The charm of fame is so great that we like every object to which it is attached, even death.

The charm of fame is so great that we like every object to which it is attached, even death.