“Fame is a bee. It has a song - it has a sting - ah, too, it has a wing.”
Emily Dickinson
FameFleeting
Famous Quotes
200 FAMOUS QUOTES · FAMOUS
Famous Quotes
Read 200 of the best famous quotes about fame, reputation, glory and being remembered, from Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, Milton, Franklin and more.
“Fame is a fickle food upon a shifting plate.”
Emily Dickinson
FameFickleness
“Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise (that last infirmity of noble mind) to scorn delights, and live laborious days.”
John Milton
AmbitionHard Work
“Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives, live register'd upon our brazen tombs.”
William Shakespeare
LegacyAmbition
“Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.”
William Shakespeare
ReputationMemory
“The purest treasure mortal times afford is spotless reputation.”
William Shakespeare
ReputationIntegrity
“Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls: who steals my purse steals trash.”
William Shakespeare
ReputationGood Name
“He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.”
William Shakespeare
LegacyVirtue
“Rumour, than whom no other evil is swifter.”
Virgil
RumoursGossip
“I have raised a monument more lasting than bronze.”
Horace
LegacyAchievement
“Through all the ages, if the prophecies of bards are true, I shall live.”
Ovid
LegacyImmortality
“Glory is the shadow of virtue.”
Seneca
GloryVirtue
“How many after being celebrated by fame have been given up to oblivion; and how many who have celebrated the fame of others have long been dead.”
Marcus Aurelius
Fleeting FameHumility
“He who has a vehement desire for posthumous fame does not consider that every one of those who remember him will himself also die very soon.”
Marcus Aurelius
LegacyPerspective
“I would rather be first in a village than second in Rome.”
Julius Caesar
AmbitionStatus
“The desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion.”
Tacitus
GloryHuman Nature
“For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb.”
Thucydides
HeroesLegacy
“The superior man dislikes the thought of his name not being mentioned after his death.”
Confucius
LegacyCharacter
“I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men.”
Confucius
RecognitionHumility
“Or fame or life, which do you hold more dear?”
Lao Tzu
PrioritiesFame
“The perfect man has no self; the spiritual man has no achievement; the true sage has no name.”
Chuang Tzu
HumilityWisdom
“Unsung, the noblest deed will die.”
Pindar
RecognitionLegacy
“A good reputation is more valuable than money.”
Publilius Syrus
ReputationValue
“Fame and tranquillity can never be bedfellows.”
Michel de Montaigne
FamePeace
“Fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid.”
Francis Bacon
FameWisdom
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About Famous Quotes
Almost everyone dreams, at least a little, of being famous: of being known, admired and remembered. But fame is a strange prize. It can open doors and change lives, yet it is also fleeting, fickle and often misunderstood. The wisest voices in history have had a lot to say about what fame really gives, and what it takes away.
This collection brings together 200 of the best famous quotes about fame, celebrity, reputation, glory and legacy, from William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, John Milton, Marcus Aurelius, Confucius, Benjamin Franklin and the Bible. Read them to think about what it means to be known, what truly lasts, and how to build a name worth remembering.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Famous quotes.
What is the most famous quote about fame?
Emily Dickinson's "Fame is a bee. It has a song - it has a sting - ah, too, it has a wing" is one of the most loved quotes about fame, capturing its sweetness, pain and speed. Milton's "Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise" is another classic.
What did Shakespeare say about reputation?
In Othello, Shakespeare wrote that a good name is "the immediate jewel" of the soul, and that "who steals my purse steals trash." In Richard II, he called "spotless reputation" the purest treasure of mortal times.
Is fame worth it?
Many wise thinkers had doubts. Marcus Aurelius pointed out how quickly famous people are forgotten, and Montaigne said "fame and tranquillity can never be bedfellows." Lao Tzu simply asked, "Or fame or life, which do you hold more dear?"
How can I be remembered after I die?
Benjamin Franklin gave the classic advice: "either write things worth reading or do things worth writing." Proverbs 10:7 adds that "the memory of the just is blessed."
What does the Bible say about fame?
The Bible warns "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!" (Luke 6:26) and says seeking your own glory "is not glory" (Proverbs 25:27). The Tower of Babel story in Genesis 11 shows people trying to "make us a name."
What are short famous quotes for Instagram captions?
Try "Glory is the shadow of virtue," "Fame is a bee," "Unsung, the noblest deed will die," or "Every hero becomes a bore at last." They work well for achievement, legacy and funny celebrity posts.