--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and…" description: "\"Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be noticed for their vices than not be noticed at all.\" — Harry S. Truman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/harry-s-truman-898_fame_men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and_3122310.jpg" --- # Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be… ![“Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be noticed for their vices than not be noticed at all.” quote by Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/harry-s-truman-898_fame_men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and_3122310.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/harry-s-truman-898_fame_men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and_3122310.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/harry-s-truman-898_fame_men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and_3122310.jpg) > “Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be noticed for their vices than not be noticed at all.” [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often seek fame through notoriety, preferring to be known for bad deeds rather than be unknown. **In simple terms:** Fame can be sought via negative attention. Key Takeaway Pursue positive reputation over mere visibility. Themes celebrity reputation human nature Mood cautionary critical Type sociological psychological When to use this quote - career advancement - social media - political campaigns - personal branding Key Concepts social psychology media influence ego public perception Questions to Reflect On - Why might someone prefer infamy? - How can one build a respectable legacy? A Different Perspective Negative attention can harm long-term credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Noticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-noticed-5487179/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [Mistake Notoriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake-notoriety-376197/) [Notoriety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notoriety/) [Notoriety Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notoriety-fame-376198/) [Vices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices/) [Vices Noticed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vices-noticed-5487180/) ## Related quotes > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Do not confuse notoriety and fame with greatness. . . . For you see, greatness is a measure of one's spirit, not a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-glenn-finesilver/do-not-confuse-notoriety-and-fame-with-greatness-for-you-see/) [Sherman Glenn Finesilver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-glenn-finesilver/) > [renown, n. A degree of distinction between notoriety and fame - a little more supportable than the one and a little more intolerable than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/renown-n-a-degree-of-distinction-between-notoriety-and-fame-a-little/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [NOTORIETY, n. The fame of one's competitor for public honors. The kind of renown most accessible and acceptable to mediocrity. A Jacob's-ladder leading to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/notoriety-n-the-fame-of-one-s-competitor-for-public-honors-the-kind/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I don't ever want it to be about me. A friend of mine told me, 'The difference between fame and notoriety is fame is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-baker/i-don-t-ever-want-it-to-be-about-me-a-friend-of-mine-told-me-the/) [Troy Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-baker/) > [“Fame as she walked at evening in a city saw the painted face of Notoriety flaunting beneath a gas-lamp, and many kneeled unto her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-dunsany/fame-as-she-walked-at-evening-in-a-city-saw-the-painted-face-of/) [Lord Dunsany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-dunsany/) > [Notoriety and public confession in the literary form is a frazzler of the heart you were born with, believe me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/notoriety-and-public-confession-in-the-literary-form-is-a-frazzler-of/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [I'm not a plumber who accidentally blew up or a math professor who accidentally backed into notoriety. I have a master's from Yale drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-richman/i-m-not-a-plumber-who-accidentally-blew-up-or-a-math-professor-who/) [Adam Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-richman/) > [The effect of prizes on one's career - if that is what to call it - is considerable, since they give one more clout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-banville/the-effect-of-prizes-on-one-s-career-if-that-is-what-to-call-it-is/) [John Banville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-banville/) > [I enjoy being mysterious. I enjoy the notoriety it brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-laettner/i-enjoy-being-mysterious-i-enjoy-the-notoriety-it-brings/) [Christian Laettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-laettner/) > [I learned that famous writers are people with foibles like anyone else and this helped me realize reaching their level of notoriety wasn't impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirby-wright/i-learned-that-famous-writers-are-people-with-foibles-like-anyone/) [Kirby Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirby-wright/) > [Whatever pretended pessimists in search of notoriety may say, most people are naturally kind, at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/whatever-pretended-pessimists-in-search-of-notoriety-may-say-most/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [Many first-time authors are not concerned about the advance or royalties, they want the notoriety. They get smarter on their second book and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-poynter/many-first-time-authors-are-not-concerned-about-the-advance-or/) [Dan Poynter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-poynter/) > [Notoriety wasn't as good as fame, but was heaps better than obscurity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/notoriety-wasn-t-as-good-as-fame-but-was-heaps-better-than-obscurity/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [America puts killers on the cover of 'TIME' magazine, giving them as much notoriety as our favorite movie stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/america-puts-killers-on-the-cover-of-time-magazine-giving-them-as/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) ## More by Harry S. Truman > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [We can never tell what is in store for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/we-can-never-tell-what-is-in-store-for-us/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [All will concede that in order to have good neighbors, we must also be good neighbors. That applies in every field of human endeavor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/all-will-concede-that-in-order-to-have-good-neighbors-we-must-also-be/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remarked for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/men-often-mistake-notoriety-for-fame-and-would-rather-be-remarked-for/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It is ignorance that causes most mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-ignorance-that-causes-most-mistakes/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Most of the time most people know the right thing to do ...its the doing of it that gives them trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/most-of-the-time-most-people-know-the-right-thing-to-do-its-the-doing/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/secrecy-and-a-free-democratic-government-don-t-mix/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [It can be lost, and it will be, if the time ever comes when these documents are regarded not as the supreme expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-can-be-lost-and-it-will-be-if-the-time-ever-comes-when-these/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The United States should not under any circumstances throw away our gun until we are sure the rest of the world cannot arm against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-united-states-should-not-under-any-circumstances-throw-away-our/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Democracy maintains that government is established for the benefit of the individual, and is charged with the responsibility of protecting the individual, and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-maintains-that-government-is-established-for-the-benefit-of/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Although I hold the highest civil honour in the world, I have always regarded my rank and title as a Past Grand Master of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/although-i-hold-the-highest-civil-honour-in-the-world-i-have-always/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Some of the presidents were great and some of them weren't. I can say that, because I wasn't one of the great presidents, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/some-of-the-presidents-were-great-and-some-of-them-weren-t-i-can-say/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A person who is fundamentally honest doesn't need a code of ethics. The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/a-person-who-is-fundamentally-honest-doesn-t-need-a-code-of-ethics/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Our goal must not be peace in our time but peace for all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/our-goal-must-not-be-peace-in-our-time-but-peace-for-all-time/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) [Explore all 336 Harry S. Truman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) ## 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": "Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be noticed for their vices than not be noticed at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry S. 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