--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fame or infamy, either one is preferable…" description: "\"Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being forgotten when you have passed from this realm.\" — Christopher Paolini" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png" --- # Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being… ![“Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being forgotten when you have passed from this realm.” quote by Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png) > “Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being forgotten when you have passed from this realm.” [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being remembered, even negatively, is better than being forgotten after death. **In simple terms:** Fame beats oblivion. Key Takeaway Seek lasting impact, positive or negative. Themes legacy memory mortality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public figures - artistic works - personal deeds Key Concepts existential value reputation afterlife Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - Is negative fame truly preferable? A Different Perspective Negativity can harm reputation and relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Infamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-infamy-2073823/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Forgotten Passed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten-passed-2073826/) [Infamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamy/) [Infamy Preferable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infamy-preferable-2073825/) [Preferable Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferable-forgotten-2073824/) [Realms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realms/) ## Related quotes > [For me, I walk a line of fame and infamy. I walk the line of celebrity and non-celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/for-me-i-walk-a-line-of-fame-and-infamy-i-walk-the-line-of-celebrity/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [There's no difference between fame and infamy now. There's a new school of professional famous people that don't do anything. They don't create anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/there-s-no-difference-between-fame-and-infamy-now-there-s-a-new/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [Why is Kris Jenner a powerhouse? Because some part of us confuses fame and infamy, too. If she really bothered us half as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/why-is-kris-jenner-a-powerhouse-because-some-part-of-us-confuses-fame/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [There is a heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/there-is-a-heroism-in-crime-as-well-as-in-virtue-vice-and-infamy-have/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I have a chest full of all the insults, villainies, and infamies a man is capable of withstanding. . . . If you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/i-have-a-chest-full-of-all-the-insults-villainies-and-infamies-a-man/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [For what is history, but... huge libel on human nature, to which we industriously add page after page, volume after volume, as if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/for-what-is-history-but-huge-libel-on-human-nature-to-which-we/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [We despise and abhor the bully, the brawler, the oppressor, whether in private or public life, but we despise no less the coward and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-despise-and-abhor-the-bully-the-brawler-the-oppressor-whether-in/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [In this, our age of infamy Man's choice is but to be A tyrant, traitor, prisoner: No other choice has he.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-this-our-age-of-infamy-man-s-choice-is-but-to-be-a-tyrant-traitor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [He who can live in infamy is unworthy of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-corneille/he-who-can-live-in-infamy-is-unworthy-of-life/) [Pierre Corneille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-corneille/) > [What shall I say! And how shall I describe this Birth to you? For this wonder fills me with astonishment. The Ancient of Days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/what-shall-i-say-and-how-shall-i-describe-this-birth-to-you-for-this/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [The meek are positive and often colorful characters. They are not self-assertive nor self-seeking, to be sure, but rather they are unselfish and uncomplaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-raymond-edman/the-meek-are-positive-and-often-colorful-characters-they-are-not-self/) [V. Raymond Edman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-raymond-edman/) > [“December 7th, 1941 -- a date which will live in infamy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/december-7th-1941-a-date-which-will-live-in-infamy/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The pamphlets going back to London telling of the violent derring-dos of the Bahamian pirates were the ones that brought infamy to the names…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-stevenson/the-pamphlets-going-back-to-london-telling-of-the-violent-derring-dos/) [Ray Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-stevenson/) > [The legacy of Ronald Reagan will live on forever. I, of course, had the wonderful opportunity of working with him and getting to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brady/the-legacy-of-ronald-reagan-will-live-on-forever-i-of-course-had-the/) [Sarah Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brady/) > [The best weapons against the infamies of life are courage, wilfulness and patience. Courage strenthens, wilfulness is fun and patience provides tranquility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/the-best-weapons-against-the-infamies-of-life-are-courage-wilfulness/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) ## More by Christopher Paolini > [Life is pain...anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/life-is-pain-anyone-who-tells-you-otherwise-is-selling-something/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [If he fancied her anymore," Saphira said to both Eragon and Roran, "I'd be trying to kiss Arya myself." "Saphira!" Mortified, Eragon swatted her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/if-he-fancied-her-anymore-saphira-said-to-both-eragon-and-roran-i-d/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Clear your mind of such thoughts. They cannot be answered and will make you no happier.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/clear-your-mind-of-such-thoughts-they-cannot-be-answered-and-will/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [We are about to change history, said Saphira. We’re throwing ourselves off a cliff without knowing how deep the water below is. Ah, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-are-about-to-change-history-said-saphira-we-re-throwing-ourselves/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I don't discuss my own beliefs in public, but I will say the beliefs I've given my characters do not necessarily represent what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-don-t-discuss-my-own-beliefs-in-public-but-i-will-say-the-beliefs-i/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've never been helpless, I just have powerful enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-never-been-helpless-i-just-have-powerful-enemies/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Islanzadi sighed, and suddenly appeared tired. “Ormomis may have been your proper teacher, but you have proved yourself to be Brom’s heir, not Oromis’s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/islanzadi-sighed-and-suddenly-appeared-tired-ormomis-may-have-been/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Regardless of whether I can shift my affections to another - and the heart, as you observed, is a notoriously fickle beast - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/regardless-of-whether-i-can-shift-my-affections-to-another-and-the/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“You worry about a crack in the floor while the whole mountain is about to come down on us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/you-worry-about-a-crack-in-the-floor-while-the-whole-mountain-is/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“The only thing she could be certain of was that she existed. All else was suspect, even her own thoughts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/the-only-thing-she-could-be-certain-of-was-that-she-existed-all-else/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“But you possess one quality that no one else does. Oh? Your identity. Your history, deeds and situation. Use those to shape your creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/but-you-possess-one-quality-that-no-one-else-does-oh-your-identity/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Left weaponless, Roran was forced to retreat before the remaining soldier. He stumbled over a corpse, cutting his calf on a sword as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/left-weaponless-roran-was-forced-to-retreat-before-the-remaining/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Let go of your worries and focus only on the task at hand. The future will be what it will, and fretting about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/let-go-of-your-worries-and-focus-only-on-the-task-at-hand-the-future/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [I've always been very grateful that enough people have enjoyed reading what I've written that I've been able to pursue writing professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/i-ve-always-been-very-grateful-that-enough-people-have-enjoyed/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) [Explore all 393 Christopher Paolini quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) ## More Fame quotes > [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/) [Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/) > [Some people say that 'Drag Race' is about glory and immortalizing yourself in the Hall of Fame. For me, it's about shaking RuPaul down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/some-people-say-that-drag-race-is-about-glory-and-immortalizing/) [Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/) > [The News of the World made me more famous than being in Atomic Kitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/the-news-of-the-world-made-me-more-famous-than-being-in-atomic-kitten/) [Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/) [Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/) > [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [Don't crave fame, do what you do and just apply. I don't think many of them here today are that interested in fashion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/don-t-crave-fame-do-what-you-do-and-just-apply-i-don-t-think-many-of/) [Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/) > [If I had never gotten famous or rich, I think I'd be equally neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/if-i-had-never-gotten-famous-or-rich-i-think-i-d-be-equally-neurotic/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Unfortunately, celebrity is a powerful thing. It can influence people, but if it can influence people in a good way, then that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/unfortunately-celebrity-is-a-powerful-thing-it-can-influence-people/) [David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/) > [I think you either live a real life or you live a weird celebrity pseudolife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/i-think-you-either-live-a-real-life-or-you-live-a-weird-celebrity/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [I am uninterested in Jennifer Aniston's take on anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dillon/i-am-uninterested-in-jennifer-aniston-s-take-on-anything/) [Tim Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dillon/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/) [Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/) > [I wanted to have money; I wanted to be special; I wanted people to like me; I wanted to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-wanted-to-have-money-i-wanted-to-be-special-i-wanted-people-to-like/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) [Browse all 6,971 Fame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being forgotten when you have passed from this realm.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Paolini" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable-to-being-forgotten-when-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable-to-being-forgotten-when-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ded/christopher-paolini-622_fame_fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable_1805993.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fame or infamy, either one is preferable to being forgotten when you have passed from this realm.” — Christopher Paolini", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Paolini", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fame or infamy, either one is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable-to-being-forgotten-when-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/fame-or-infamy-either-one-is-preferable-to-being-forgotten-when-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```