--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By sending the contradictory message that…" description: "\"By sending the contradictory message that the famous are just plain folks on Mount Olympus, America has forged a relentless tension between loftiness a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/florence-king-2603_accessibility_by-sending-the-contradictory-message-tha_3217715.jpg" --- # By sending the contradictory message that the famous are… ![“By sending the contradictory message that the famous are just plain folks on Mount Olympus, America has forged a relentless tension between loftiness and accessibility. Stir in the fact that the inborn talent and intelligence needed to achieve fame are immune to distributive tinkering by…” quote by Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/florence-king-2603_accessibility_by-sending-the-contradictory-message-tha_3217715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/florence-king-2603_accessibility_by-sending-the-contradictory-message-tha_3217715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18e/florence-king-2603_accessibility_by-sending-the-contradictory-message-tha_3217715.jpg) > “By sending the contradictory message that the famous are just plain folks on Mount Olympus, America has forged a relentless tension between loftiness and accessibility. Stir in the fact that the inborn talent and intelligence needed to achieve fame are immune to distributive tinkering by government programs and you have a definition of fame certain to produce envious rage: somebody screwed democracy.” [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fame is portrayed as both lofty and ordinary, creating envy and tension, especially when talent is seen as innate and unadjustable. **In simple terms:** Fame creates envy due to perceived unfairness. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage envy toward fame. Themes fame inequality envy talent Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical political When to use this quote - celebrity culture - political discourse - media analysis - educational policy Key Concepts social hierarchy meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - How does fame affect democratic values? - What can reduce envy of the famous? A Different Perspective Talent can be nurtured, not just innate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accessibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accessibility/) [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-fame-659800/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Contradictory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradictory/) [Definition Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-fame-6037119/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Envious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envious/) [Envy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/envy/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-certain-4619184/) [Fame Immune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-immune-6037120/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Forged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forged/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government programs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-programs/) [Immune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immune/) [Messages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/messages/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Olympus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympus/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Program](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/program/) [Rage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rage/) [Relentless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relentless/) [Screwed Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/screwed-democracy-6037121/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Tinkering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tinkering/) ## Related quotes > [You want to live your own life, but when you have fame, there are certain things you can't get away with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-epps/you-want-to-live-your-own-life-but-when-you-have-fame-there-are/) [Omar Epps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-epps/) > [I won't become a household word, or achieve the fame I deserve in my lifetime because of the way I look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-khan/i-won-t-become-a-household-word-or-achieve-the-fame-i-deserve-in-my/) [Chaka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-khan/) > [There's a panic, a rush, to this 'achievement' of fame. There's also the ambivalence of fame: the love of it and the hatred of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-bateman/there-s-a-panic-a-rush-to-this-achievement-of-fame-there-s-also-the/) [Justine Bateman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-bateman/) > [Entertainers and sports figures achieve fame and wealth but find the world empty and dull without the solace and stimulation of drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/entertainers-and-sports-figures-achieve-fame-and-wealth-but-find-the/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Everyone would tell me they couldn't identify with sexual abuse. No one says they can't identify with the tales of the Greek gods and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-chee/everyone-would-tell-me-they-couldn-t-identify-with-sexual-abuse-no/) [Alexander Chee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-chee/) > [Juno: "The heroes of olympus must unite! After your victory over kronos in manhattan...well I fear that wounded jupiter's self-esteem." Percy: Cause I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/juno-the-heroes-of-olympus-must-unite-after-your-victory-over-kronos/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Olympus has been a much welcomed return to my Shakespearean roots. King Aegeus demanded a much greater range and depth that I've yet had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-shiels/olympus-has-been-a-much-welcomed-return-to-my-shakespearean-roots/) [Graham Shiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-shiels/) > [“Mount Olympus. This ever-changing sea. The tankers. The fishing vessels. I know you think I can't see them, but I could once. I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-hislop/mount-olympus-this-ever-changing-sea-the-tankers-the-fishing-vessels/) [Victoria Hislop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-hislop/) > [But you have nothing better to do with your time than harass us, do you? Go back to ruling the universe from Mount Olympus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/but-you-have-nothing-better-to-do-with-your-time-than-harass-us-do/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [That's what being a demigod was all about, not quite belonging in the mortal world or on Mount Olympus but trying to make peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/that-s-what-being-a-demigod-was-all-about-not-quite-belonging-in-the/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Could truth perhaps be a woman who has reasons for not permitting her reasons to be seen? Could her name perhaps be--to speak Greek--Baubo?...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/could-truth-perhaps-be-a-woman-who-has-reasons-for-not-permitting-her/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I've always been interested in photography. I remember when I was about 14, I spent an entire summer selling lottery tickets in some little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-renck/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-photography-i-remember-when-i-was/) [Johan Renck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-renck/) > [“Olympus is still a patriarchy. Zeus heads his royal household as jealously as Jehovah rules his harem of dull, harp-playing angels. Both are templates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-james/olympus-is-still-a-patriarchy-zeus-heads-his-royal-household-as/) [Cliff James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-james/) > [I wondered if Olympus had gone to a commercial break, or if our ratings had been any good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-wondered-if-olympus-had-gone-to-a-commercial-break-or-if-our/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [People in big empty places are likely to behave very much as the gods did on Olympus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-ferber/people-in-big-empty-places-are-likely-to-behave-very-much-as-the-gods/) [Edna Ferber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-ferber/) ## More by Florence King > [“Feminists will not be satisfied until every abortion is performed by a gay black doctor under an endangered tree on a reservation for handicapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/feminists-will-not-be-satisfied-until-every-abortion-is-performed-by/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that they're all asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/people-are-so-busy-dreaming-the-american-dream-fantasizing-about-what/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In its purest sense, nicknaming is an elitist ritual practiced by those who cherish hierarchy. For preppies it's a smoke signal that allows Bunny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-its-purest-sense-nicknaming-is-an-elitist-ritual-practiced-by/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In the last few years, race relations in America have entered upon a period of intensified craziness wherein fear of being called a racist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-the-last-few-years-race-relations-in-america-have-entered-upon-a/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [“For a girl gone wrong, you can't beat the banks of the Wabash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/for-a-girl-gone-wrong-you-can-t-beat-the-banks-of-the-wabash/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [A man should never apologize!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/a-man-should-never-apologize/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [He travels fastest who travels alone, and that goes double for she. Real feminism is spinsterhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/he-travels-fastest-who-travels-alone-and-that-goes-double-for-she/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [to a Southerner it is faux pas, not sins, that matter in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/to-a-southerner-it-is-faux-pas-not-sins-that-matter-in-this-world/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [If you ever meet someone who cannot understand why solitary confinement is considered punishment, you have met a misanthrope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/if-you-ever-meet-someone-who-cannot-understand-why-solitary/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [No matter which sex I went to bed with, I never smoked on the street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/no-matter-which-sex-i-went-to-bed-with-i-never-smoked-on-the-street/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Hereditary monarchy offers numerous advantages for America. It is the only form of government able to unify a heterogeneous people. Thanks to centuries of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/hereditary-monarchy-offers-numerous-advantages-for-america-it-is-the/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Resistance to team play seemed to pour like wet cement through my bones, displacing supple marrow, until I was ballasted with my own contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/resistance-to-team-play-seemed-to-pour-like-wet-cement-through-my/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [In Mississippi the important thing is hooch, not bar equipment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/in-mississippi-the-important-thing-is-hooch-not-bar-equipment/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Writers, not psychiatrists, are the true interpreters of the human mind and heart, and we have been at it for a very long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/writers-not-psychiatrists-are-the-true-interpreters-of-the-human-mind/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) > [Showing up at school already able to read is like showing up at the undertaker's already embalmed: people start worrying about being put out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-king/showing-up-at-school-already-able-to-read-is-like-showing-up-at-the/) [Florence King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) [Explore all 158 Florence King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-king/) ## More Accessibility quotes > [“AI must orbit humanity, not turn humanity into a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/ai-must-orbit-humanity-not-turn-humanity-into-a-lie/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Whatever it is that you're successful at, that has to be the No. 1 goal. In my case, it's accessibility. So all of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/whatever-it-is-that-you-re-successful-at-that-has-to-be-the-no-1-goal/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [“Accessibility means more than adding a ramp between the sidewalk and the front door of a building. It includes the ease in which a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fenton-lee/accessibility-means-more-than-adding-a-ramp-between-the-sidewalk-and/) [Amy Fenton Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fenton-lee/) > [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I know "accessibility" is a term that's kind of thrown around wantonly today, especially with talking about visual media. But I think that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-powell/i-know-accessibility-is-a-term-that-s-kind-of-thrown-around-wantonly/) [Nate Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-powell/) > [“The lingerie department is the only one that she can reach in her wheelchair. Nevertheless, she is fired the next day because of complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemarie-garland-thomson/the-lingerie-department-is-the-only-one-that-she-can-reach-in-her/) [Rosemarie Garland Thomson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemarie-garland-thomson/) > [“Use AI to empower life, don't abuse AI to ruin life. AI must orbit humanity, not turn humanity into a lie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/use-ai-to-empower-life-don-t-abuse-ai-to-ruin-life-ai-must-orbit/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [A novel can educate to some extent, but first a novel has to entertain. That's the contract with the reader: you give me ten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/a-novel-can-educate-to-some-extent-but-first-a-novel-has-to-entertain/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [“Naskar Constitution of GenAI (Sonnet) At times I'm hard on AI, at times I'm lenient, I have just one law on AI, keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/naskar-constitution-of-genai-sonnet-at-times-i-m-hard-on-ai-at-times/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [What I like about popular culture is its accessibility, and I've covered popular songs because they are amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wyatt/what-i-like-about-popular-culture-is-its-accessibility-and-i-ve/) [Robert Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wyatt/) > [“Who is setting the bar for what you call accessibility? The definition of “accessible” is “easy to understand,” and so much of the fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-marcus/who-is-setting-the-bar-for-what-you-call-accessibility-the-definition/) [Ben Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-marcus/) > [I like the idea of accessibility, coming from a lower-middle-class background myself, I feel like beauty and products should be accessible to all women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-kruger/i-like-the-idea-of-accessibility-coming-from-a-lower-middle-class/) [Diane Kruger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-kruger/) > [The fundamental magic of flying, a miracle that has nothing to do with any of its practical purposes - purposes of speed, accessibility, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/the-fundamental-magic-of-flying-a-miracle-that-has-nothing-to-do-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [The four BIAs in the area support it. Operational benefits include accessibility and a place for police officers to come and go when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fantino/the-four-bias-in-the-area-support-it-operational-benefits-include/) [Julian Fantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fantino/) > [The division into whig and tory is founded in the nature of men; the weakly and nerveless, the rich and the corrupt, seeing more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-division-into-whig-and-tory-is-founded-in-the-nature-of-men-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 79 Accessibility quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accessibility/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By sending the contradictory message that the famous are just plain folks on Mount Olympus, America has forged a relentless tension between loftiness and accessibility. 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