---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hunger for applause is the source for…"
description: "\"The hunger for applause is the source for all conscious literature and heroism\" — Francois de La Rochefoucauld"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_applause_the-hunger-for-applause-is-the-source-fo_260482.png"
---

#  The hunger for applause is the source for all conscious…

![“The hunger for applause is the source for all conscious literature and heroism” quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_applause_the-hunger-for-applause-is-the-source-fo_260482.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_applause_the-hunger-for-applause-is-the-source-fo_260482.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/12f/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld-1_applause_the-hunger-for-applause-is-the-source-fo_260482.png)

> “The hunger for applause is the source for all conscious literature and heroism”

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People seek recognition, and that desire drives both artistic creation and heroic deeds.

**In simple terms:** Desire for applause fuels literature and heroism.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the motive behind creative and heroic acts.

Themes

recognition creativity heroism ego motivation

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical observational

When to use this quote

- writing
- public speaking
- leadership
- performance arts
- political activism

Key Concepts

psychology social validation literary criticism

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you create for praise or purpose?
- How does applause shape your values?

A Different Perspective

The pursuit of applause can lead to inauthentic work or selfish heroism.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/)

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> [However great the advantages given us by nature, it is not she alone, but fortune with her, which makes heroes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/however-great-the-advantages-given-us-by-nature-it-is-not-she-alone/)

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[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [If anyone ever boos you off stage, that is simply applause from ghosts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-needles/if-anyone-ever-boos-you-off-stage-that-is-simply-applause-from-ghosts/)

[Sharon Needles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-needles/)

> [“Upon common theaters, indeed, the applause of the audience is of more importance to the actors than their own aprobation. But upon the stage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/upon-common-theaters-indeed-the-applause-of-the-audience-is-of-more/)

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> [The logic of worldly success rests on a fallacy: the strange error that our perfection depends on the thoughts and opinions and applause of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-logic-of-worldly-success-rests-on-a-fallacy-the-strange-error/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home, and freedom's defender.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/it-is-clear-that-the-future-of-freedom-and-peace-depend-on-the/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [“Those who do soul work, who want the searing truth more than solace or applause, know each other right away. Those who want something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/those-who-do-soul-work-who-want-the-searing-truth-more-than-solace-or/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [ All the shows we did pre-airdate, and I'd come out - "Rob Lowe!" - and it was \[Offers bored applause.\] After the show aired?… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/all-the-shows-we-did-pre-airdate-and-i-d-come-out-rob-lowe-and-it-was/)

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> [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/)

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> [“An applause is not just the recognition of good performance, but its proof of being different than the crowd.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-applause-is-not-just-the-recognition-of-good-performance-but-its/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [“In due course I would learn how to cover up for this event, but on that awful day I knew of nothing to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-pryor/in-due-course-i-would-learn-how-to-cover-up-for-this-event-but-on/)

[Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-pryor/)

> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

## More by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

> [Our own distrust gives a fair pretence for the knavery of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/our-own-distrust-gives-a-fair-pretence-for-the-knavery-of-other-people/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [“Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/passion-often-makes-a-madman-of-the-cleverest-man-and-renders-the/)

[François de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [Perseverance is neither praiseworthy nor blameworthy; for it seems to be only the enduring of certain inclinations and opinions which men neither give themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/perseverance-is-neither-praiseworthy-nor-blameworthy-for-it-seems-to/)

[Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/)

> [A woman is faithful to her first lover for a long time - unless she happens to take a second.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-woman-is-faithful-to-her-first-lover-for-a-long-time-unless-she/)

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> [We are almost always wearied in the company of persons with whom we are not permitted to be weary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-are-almost-always-wearied-in-the-company-of-persons-with-whom-we/)

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> [Jealousy is always born with love, but does not die with it. In jealousy there is more of self-love than of love to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/jealousy-is-always-born-with-love-but-does-not-die-with-it-in/)

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> [The greatest of all gifts is the power to estimate things at their true worth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-greatest-of-all-gifts-is-the-power-to-estimate-things-at-their/)

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> [We have not strength enough to follow our reason so far as it would carry us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/we-have-not-strength-enough-to-follow-our-reason-so-far-as-it-would/)

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> [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/)

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> [When I got through, Duke Ellington stood up and started the applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-brown/when-i-got-through-duke-ellington-stood-up-and-started-the-applause/)

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> [The beauteous dragonfly's dancing By the waves of the rivulet glancing; She dances here and she dances there, The glimmering, glittering flutterer fair. Full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/the-beauteous-dragonfly-s-dancing-by-the-waves-of-the-rivulet/)

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Mak\_786

> [Qv5YUc A round of applause for your blog.Really looking forward to read more. Awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oem-software-buy/qv5yuc-a-round-of-applause-for-your-blog-really-looking-forward-to/)

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