Now there is fame! Of all—hunger, misery, the incomprehension by the public—fame is by far the worst. It is the castigation by God of the artist. It is sad. It is true.
—Pablo Picasso, c. 1961Quotes
Fame is but the empty noise of madmen.
—Epictetus, c. 100There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
—Oscar Wilde, 1891They are trying to make me into a fixed star. I am an irregular planet.
—Martin Luther, c. 1530I would much rather have men ask why I have no statue than why I have one.
—Cato the Elder, c. 184 BCReality is always the foe of famous names.
—Petrarch, 1337What a heavy burden is a name that has become too famous.
—Voltaire, 1723Fame is no sanctuary from the passing of youth. Suicide is much easier and more acceptable in Hollywood than growing old gracefully.
—Julie Burchill, 1986I won’t be happy till I’m as famous as God.
—Madonna, c. 1985I’m afraid of losing my obscurity. Genuineness only thrives in the dark. Like celery.
—Aldous Huxley, 1925A woman’s greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill.
—Pericles, c. 450 BCWhen I do a show, the whole show revolves around me, and if I don’t show up, they can just forget it.
—Ethel Merman, c. 1955If fame is only to come after death, I am in no hurry for it.
—Martial, c. 86