Heart, we will forget him, You and I, tonight! You must forget the warmth he gave, I will forget the light.
Emily DickinsonRead
Celebrity is the chastisement of merit and the punishment of talent.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Celebrity often comes at the cost of genuine talent and achievement, serving as a reminder of society's values.
In this quote, Emily Dickinson suggests that the allure of celebrity status often undermines true merit and talent. It implies that being famous can serve as a form of punishment, overshadowing real skills and achievements while drawing unnecessary attention to perhaps less deserving individuals, reflecting a societal tendency to prioritize fame over substance.
Themes
CelebrityTalentMeritSocietyFame
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in discussions about the impacts of reality TV on talent and artistry.
More from Emily Dickinson
All quotes βI held a jewel in my fingers And went to sleep. The day was warm, and winds were prosy; I said: "'T will keep." I woke and chid my honest fingers,β The gem was gone; And now an amethyst remembrance Is all I own.
Emily DickinsonRead
I'll tell you how the sun rose, a ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hills untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then I said softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!
Emily DickinsonRead
My best Acquaintances are those With Whom I spoke no Word
Emily DickinsonRead
This is the Hour of Lead- Remembered, if outlived, As freezing persons, recollect the Snow- First-Chill-then Stupor- then the letting go---
Emily DickinsonRead
Luck is not chance, it's toil; fortune's expensive smile is earned.
Emily DickinsonRead
Similar quotes
Every good mathematician is at least half a philosopher, and every good philosopher is at least half a mathematician.
Gottlob FregeRead
Some people tried to hurt us to protect themselves, their family and communities...This was one of the consequences of civil war. People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.
Ishmael BeahRead
It seems the more I think about not sinning, the more I sin, but the more I think about just loving Jesus, the less I seem to sin. Falling in love seems to be the key.
John WimberRead
Reaction and non-action both create karma, but conscious action transcends karma.
Sri Sri Ravi ShankarRead
It does not do to rely too much on silent majorities, Evey, for silence is a fragile thing, one loud noise, and its gone. But the people are so cowed and disorganised. A few might take the opportunity to protest, but it'll just be a voice crying in the wilderness. Noise is relative to the silence preceding it. The more absolute the hush, the more shocking the thunderclap. Our masters have not heard the people's voice for generations, Evey and it is much, much louder than they care to remember.
Alan MooreRead
A purpose, an intention, a design, strikes everywhere even the careless, the most stupid thinker.
David HumeRead