--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sadly, as with so much about history's…" description: "\"Sadly, as with so much about history's heroes, it's the spotting of potential fame that's the difficulty, whether it's publishing their poems, hanging ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/alan-coren-22813_basements_sadly-as-with-so-much-about-history-s-he_3110157.png" --- # Sadly, as with so much about history's heroes, it's the… ![“Sadly, as with so much about history's heroes, it's the spotting of potential fame that's the difficulty, whether it's publishing their poems, hanging their paintings, or buying their old underwear. Think of the great men whose lives passed in penury and hacking coughs due to public unawareness…” quote by Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/alan-coren-22813_basements_sadly-as-with-so-much-about-history-s-he_3110157.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/alan-coren-22813_basements_sadly-as-with-so-much-about-history-s-he_3110157.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00f/alan-coren-22813_basements_sadly-as-with-so-much-about-history-s-he_3110157.png) > “Sadly, as with so much about history's heroes, it's the spotting of potential fame that's the difficulty, whether it's publishing their poems, hanging their paintings, or buying their old underwear. Think of the great men whose lives passed in penury and hacking coughs due to public unawareness that their littlest possession would end up at Sothebys or the basement at Fort Knox.” [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The difficulty lies in recognizing talent before it becomes famous, leading to missed opportunities for artists and their work. **In simple terms:** Finding talent early is hard. Key Takeaway Seek and support emerging creators. Themes recognition talent history fame Mood reflective critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - art exhibitions - literary publishing - auction houses - media coverage Key Concepts cultural economics social bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we better identify undervalued creators? - What systems overlook hidden talent? A Different Perspective Fame often depends on timing and exposure, not merit alone. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Forts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forts/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Hacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hacking/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Publishing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/publishing/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Unawareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unawareness/) ## Related quotes > [Until 'Lovecraft Country' feels like a show where people go, 'Is that how the world used to be?' we do need to talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wunmi-mosaku/until-lovecraft-country-feels-like-a-show-where-people-go-is-that-how/) [Wunmi Mosaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wunmi-mosaku/) > [The famous names throughout history-be they heroes or villains-if they accomplished anything notable, they were passionate. Passion is what drives those who accomplish momentous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-williams/the-famous-names-throughout-history-be-they-heroes-or-villains-if/) [Andrew Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-williams/) > [Our youngsters are not aware about the history of our heroes like Hari Singh Nalwa, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Madan Lal Dhingra, Baba Baghel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gurpreet-ghuggi/our-youngsters-are-not-aware-about-the-history-of-our-heroes-like/) [Gurpreet Ghuggi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gurpreet-ghuggi/) > [When we look at history, we see history is made up of the heroes of their times. Yet, somehow we miss this when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-look-at-history-we-see-history-is-made-up-of-the-heroes-of/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“It was his detachment that saved us. Another man would have reacted with force to the Soviet treachery. He would have shared the righteousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/it-was-his-detachment-that-saved-us-another-man-would-have-reacted/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [For a while I thought history was something bitter old men wrote. But Jack loved history so ... for Jack history was full of heroes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-lee-bouvier-kennedy-onassis/for-a-while-i-thought-history-was-something-bitter-old-men-wrote-but/) Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis > [Human history is work history. The heroes of the people are work heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meridel-le-sueur/human-history-is-work-history-the-heroes-of-the-people-are-work-heroes/) [Meridel Le Sueur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meridel-le-sueur/) > [“The aloneness. The invisible walls. Always the outsider looking in. Different. Unusual. I despise their world and the superficiality of it all and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-stevens/the-aloneness-the-invisible-walls-always-the-outsider-looking-in/) [Taylor Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-stevens/) > [Lack of sensitivity is perhaps basically an unawareness of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/lack-of-sensitivity-is-perhaps-basically-an-unawareness-of-ourselves/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [A household where a total unawareness of the world of ideas not only existed but was regarded as a matter for congratulation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osbert-lancaster/a-household-where-a-total-unawareness-of-the-world-of-ideas-not-only/) [Osbert Lancaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osbert-lancaster/) > [The human heart cries out for help; the human soul implores us for deliverance; but we do not heed their cries, for we neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-human-heart-cries-out-for-help-the-human-soul-implores-us-for/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Awareness and ego cannot coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/awareness-and-ego-cannot-coexist/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The world is not a problem; the problem is your unawareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-is-not-a-problem-the-problem-is-your-unawareness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Living in a chronic state of unawareness can cause us to miss much of what is most beautiful and meaningful in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/living-in-a-chronic-state-of-unawareness-can-cause-us-to-miss-much-of/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) ## More by Alan Coren > [There are many mysteries in old age but the greatest, surely, is this: in those adverts for walk-in bathtubs, why doesn't all the water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/there-are-many-mysteries-in-old-age-but-the-greatest-surely-is-this/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what it is you want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/democracy-consists-of-choosing-your-dictators-after-they-ve-told-you/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Jacob is a German Shepherd. (I have never understood why they aren't called German Sheepdogs. What do the Germans call shepherds?)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/jacob-is-a-german-shepherd-i-have-never-understood-why-they-aren-t/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Strictly speaking, the land does not exist; it is merely dehydrated sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/strictly-speaking-the-land-does-not-exist-it-is-merely-dehydrated-sea/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [The role of humour is to make people fall down and writhe on the Axminster, and that is the top and bottom of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/the-role-of-humour-is-to-make-people-fall-down-and-writhe-on-the/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [To have a grievance is to have a purpose in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/to-have-a-grievance-is-to-have-a-purpose-in-life/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [English Bohemianism is a curiously unluscious fruit. ... Inside this hothouse, huge lascivious orchids slide sensuously up the sweating windows, passion-flowers cross-pollinate in wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/english-bohemianism-is-a-curiously-unluscious-fruit-inside-this/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [All I know of birds to this date is that sparrows are the ones that are not pigeons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/all-i-know-of-birds-to-this-date-is-that-sparrows-are-the-ones-that/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [I sometimes wonder if the manufacturers of foolproof items keep a fool or two on their payroll to test things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/i-sometimes-wonder-if-the-manufacturers-of-foolproof-items-keep-a/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Democracy consists of choosing your dictators, after they've told you what you think it is you want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/democracy-consists-of-choosing-your-dictators-after-they-ve-told-you-2/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/in-the-days-when-the-keepers-of-the-house-shall-tremble-and-the/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [I wonder sometimes if manufacturers of foolproof items keep a fool or two on their payroll to test things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/i-wonder-sometimes-if-manufacturers-of-foolproof-items-keep-a-fool-or/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Television is more interesting than people. If it were not we should have people standing in the corner of our room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/television-is-more-interesting-than-people-if-it-were-not-we-should/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Having lost the last war, they are currently enjoying a Wirtschaftswunder , which can be briefly translated as "The best way to own a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/having-lost-the-last-war-they-are-currently-enjoying-a/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [Ethnically, the Germans are Teutonic...being made up of Vandals, Gepidae, and Goths, all of whom emigrated - south from Sweden in about 500 BC;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/ethnically-the-germans-are-teutonic-being-made-up-of-vandals-gepidae/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) [Explore all 27 Alan Coren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) ## More Basements quotes > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [If the watchdog doesn't bark, how do you know there's a burglar in the basement? And the press is supposed to be a watchdog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-moyers/if-the-watchdog-doesn-t-bark-how-do-you-know-there-s-a-burglar-in-the/) [Bill Moyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-moyers/) > [Every time I get in an elevator, the operator says the same thing to me: 'Basement?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/every-time-i-get-in-an-elevator-the-operator-says-the-same-thing-to/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [White Zombie was a bunch of kids with the worst equipment playing in a basement. But that is what is so great about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/white-zombie-was-a-bunch-of-kids-with-the-worst-equipment-playing-in/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [I might be in the basement. I'll go upstairs and check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/i-might-be-in-the-basement-i-ll-go-upstairs-and-check/) [M. C. Escher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-escher/) > [The problem is that the internet IS some kid in a basement with an opinion. The fact that David Bowie and Elton John told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-hamilton/the-problem-is-that-the-internet-is-some-kid-in-a-basement-with-an/) [Page Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-hamilton/) > [I love getting into the basement of a courthouse, and all the dusty records - all that stuff makes me really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-cameron/i-love-getting-into-the-basement-of-a-courthouse-and-all-the-dusty/) [Sharon Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-cameron/) > [My husband is a musician. He cooks and he's a chef but he also, he makes basement recordings. So many people in my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-spiotta/my-husband-is-a-musician-he-cooks-and-he-s-a-chef-but-he-also-he/) [Dana Spiotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-spiotta/) > [SM is an art. Doing it well requires more than a bag full of expensive whips and exotic electrical toys, a closet full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sm-is-an-art-doing-it-well-requires-more-than-a-bag-full-of-expensive/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All the green-screen stuff - all the special effects stuff - I shot right there in my house, in the basement in my theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-winans/all-the-green-screen-stuff-all-the-special-effects-stuff-i-shot-right/) Vickie Winans > [We made basement practice songs.To have them presented in such a huge fashion today - like at Primavera, where it's thousands of people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-pajo/we-made-basement-practice-songs-to-have-them-presented-in-such-a-huge/) [David Pajo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-pajo/) > [After my grandfather died I went down to the basement of my family house where my family kept books, anthologies and things and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/after-my-grandfather-died-i-went-down-to-the-basement-of-my-family/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [The massive corruption common in so many developing countries would be quite impossible if Western countries did not provide convenient opportunities to ship ill-gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-pogge/the-massive-corruption-common-in-so-many-developing-countries-would/) [Thomas Pogge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-pogge/) > [Off-the-rack solutions, like bargain basement dresses, never fit anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-giroud/off-the-rack-solutions-like-bargain-basement-dresses-never-fit-anymore/) [Francoise Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-giroud/) > [No matter what else you came up against, if you could smile and laugh while a monkey did you with chestnuts in a dank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/no-matter-what-else-you-came-up-against-if-you-could-smile-and-laugh/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) Browse all 243 Basements quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sadly, as with so much about history's heroes, it's the spotting of potential fame that's the difficulty, whether it's publishing their poems, hanging their paintings, or buying their old underwear. 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