I wanted to be seen as a good person, and never wanted to…
![“I wanted to be seen as a good person, and never wanted to let people down, but I found it hard to handle the fame or adulation. I didn't feel worthy of it. I was ashamed by who I thought I was because I felt partly responsible [for the abuse] and I was never able to enjoy the stuff I should have…” quote by Greg LeMond](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/64e/greg-lemond-18034_able_i-wanted-to-be-seen-as-a-good-person-and_2197209.jpg)
“I wanted to be seen as a good person, and never wanted to let people down, but I found it hard to handle the fame or adulation. I didn't feel worthy of it. I was ashamed by who I thought I was because I felt partly responsible [for the abuse] and I was never able to enjoy the stuff I should have been able to enjoy. My first thought when I won the Tour was: 'My God, I'm going to be famous', and then I thought, 'He's going to call'. I was always waiting for that phone call. I lived in fear that anyone would ever find out.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Fame can amplify personal insecurities, making self‑worth feel fragile and dependent on external validation.
In simple terms: Fame can hurt self‑esteem.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner validation, not fame.
Themes
fame
self‑esteem
vulnerability
Mood
reflective
empathetic
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- sports fame
- public scrutiny
- mental health
Key Concepts
psychology
celebrity culture
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal standards guide you?
- How do you protect yourself from fame’s pressure?
A Different Perspective
External approval cannot replace self‑acceptance.