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Some people obtain fame, others deserve it.
Doris Lessing
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Fame is not always a reflection of one's worth or merit, as some people achieve it merely by chance, while others earn it through their actions and contributions.

This quote by Doris Lessing highlights the distinction between those who attain fame through luck or circumstance and those who truly deserve recognition for their efforts and character. It emphasizes that fame is not necessarily indicative of a person's value or abilities, suggesting a deeper meaning behind what it means to be respected or acknowledged in society.

Themes

FameSuccessRecognitionMeritWorth

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about the merits of public figures, you might say this quote to emphasize the difference between earned and unearned fame.

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I am a person who continually destroys the possibilities of a future because of the numbers of alternative viewpoints I can focus on the present.
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The World War I, I'm a child of World War I. And I really know about the children of war. Because both my parents were both badly damaged by the war. My father, physically, and both mentally and emotionally. So, I know exactly what it's like to be brought up in an atmosphere of a continual harping on the war.
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You should write, first of all, to please yourself. You shouldn't care a damn about anybody else at all. But writing can't be a way of life - the important part of writing is living. You have to live in such a way that your writing emerges from it.
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