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.

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.

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.

Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us footprints on read more

Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime. And, departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time.

What shall I do to be forever known,
And make the age to come my own?

What shall I do to be forever known,
And make the age to come my own?

To myself alone do I owe my fame.
[Fr., Je ne dois qu'a moi seul toute ma renommee.]

To myself alone do I owe my fame.
[Fr., Je ne dois qu'a moi seul toute ma renommee.]

Fame is a fickle food Upon a shifting plate.

Fame is a fickle food Upon a shifting plate.

A niche in the temple of Fame.

A niche in the temple of Fame.

The highest form of vanity is love of fame.

The highest form of vanity is love of fame.