Glorious men are the scorn of wise men, the admiration of fools, the idols of parasites, and the slaves of their own vaunts.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Glorious people are mocked by the wise, admired by fools, idolized by parasites, and become slaves to their own vanity.
- In plain terms
- Fame draws both ridicule and blind worship, and can trap the famous in ego.
- What can you take from it?
- Beware the pitfalls of fame and ego.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What protects a person from becoming a slave to vanity?
- How do different audiences shape a person's self‑image?
Another view
Not all celebrated individuals become vain or parasitic.
More from Francis Bacon
Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid.
Permalink to quote #138 The winning of honor, is but the revealing of a man's virtue and worth, without disadvantage.
Permalink to quote #140 A wise man will make more opportunities, than he finds.
Permalink to quote #137
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