Tue 4 December 2018

The value of fame during and after life

Written by Hongjinn Park in Articles

Today I want to reflect on the following quote from The Meditations:


People who are excited by posthumous fame forget that the people who remember them will soon die too. And those after them in turn. Until their memory, passed from one to another like a candle flame, gutters and goes out. But suppose that those who remembered you were immortal and your memory undying. What good would it do you? And I don't just mean when you're dead, but in your own lifetime. What use is praise, except to make your lifestyle a little more comfortable?

"You're out of step—neglecting the gifts of nature to hand on someone's words in the future."

– Marcus Aurelius

Marcus was the most powerful person on the planet with the most prestigious job, Emperor. It doesn't get much better than that. But there's probably no amount of fame or social status that will satisfy us. Something for me to keep in mind.



Articles

Personal notes I've written over the years.