--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The further our civilization advances…" description: "\"The further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does \"fame\" become, especially of the literary sort. Thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/herman-melville-162_acquaintance_the-further-our-civilization-advances-up_2536814.jpg" --- # The further our civilization advances upon its present… ![“The further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does "fame" become, especially of the literary sort. This species of "fame" a waggish acquaintance says can be manufactured to order, and sometimes is so manufactured.” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/herman-melville-162_acquaintance_the-further-our-civilization-advances-up_2536814.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/herman-melville-162_acquaintance_the-further-our-civilization-advances-up_2536814.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f2/herman-melville-162_acquaintance_the-further-our-civilization-advances-up_2536814.jpg) > “The further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does "fame" become, especially of the literary sort. This species of "fame" a waggish acquaintance says can be manufactured to order, and sometimes is so manufactured.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. As society progresses, fame, especially literary fame, becomes cheap and can be artificially created. **In simple terms:** Fame becomes easy to manufacture in a modern world. Key Takeaway Beware of superficial fame. Themes culture literature authenticity Mood cynical reflective Type critical observational When to use this quote - publishing industry - social media - career advancement - personal branding Key Concepts celebrity manufactured reputation social value Questions to Reflect On - How does manufactured fame affect personal fulfillment? - What value does genuine achievement hold? A Different Perspective Fame may lack depth and lasting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acquaintance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acquaintance/) [Cheaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheaper/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Advances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-advances-1395229/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Fame Especially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-especially-1395230/) [Fame Waggish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame-waggish-1395231/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-fame-1395232/) ## Related quotes > [I quite enjoy fame, especially when you go to conventions in America where they treat you like a god with stretch limos and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-mccoy/i-quite-enjoy-fame-especially-when-you-go-to-conventions-in-america/) [Sylvester McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-mccoy/) > [Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/civilization-advances-by-extending-the-number-of-important-operations-3/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [“In the words of the English philosopher Alfred North Whitehead, “Civilization advances by extending the number of operations which we can perform without thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-gigerenzer/in-the-words-of-the-english-philosopher-alfred-north-whitehead/) [Gerd Gigerenzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-gigerenzer/) > [“It is a profoundly erroneous truism that we should cultivate the habit of thinking of what we are doing. The precise opposite is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/it-is-a-profoundly-erroneous-truism-that-we-should-cultivate-the/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [As civilization advances, man grows unconscious of the primitive elements of life; he is separated from them by his perfection of material techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/as-civilization-advances-man-grows-unconscious-of-the-primitive/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [As civilization advances, poetry almost necessarily declines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-civilization-advances-poetry-almost-necessarily-declines/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As civilization advances, the sense of wonder declines. Such decline is an alarming symptom of our state of mind. Mankind will not perish for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-joshua-heschel/as-civilization-advances-the-sense-of-wonder-declines-such-decline-is/) [Abraham Joshua Heschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-joshua-heschel/) > [Do you think that civilization advances because of things written in books? Not a bit of what is written in books ever got there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/do-you-think-that-civilization-advances-because-of-things-written-in/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [“Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. —Alfred North Whitehead, An Introduction to Mathematics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wachter/civilization-advances-by-extending-the-number-of-important-operations-2/) [Robert Wachter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wachter/) > [Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. 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But it needs to be an angry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/if-you-re-angry-you-don-t-have-to-write-a-poem-dealing-with-the-cause/) [Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/) > [The machines need to get faster. They need to get cheaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/the-machines-need-to-get-faster-they-need-to-get-cheaper/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Acquaintance quotes > [Distrust all those who love you extremely upon a very slight acquaintance and without any visible reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distrust-all-those-who-love-you-extremely-upon-a-very-slight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be much alone with God, and take time to get thoroughly acquainted. Converse over everything with Him. Unburden yourself wholly -every thought, feeling, wish,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatius-bonar/be-much-alone-with-god-and-take-time-to-get-thoroughly-acquainted/) [Horatius Bonar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatius-bonar/) > [The study of history and philosophy, accompanied by some acquaintance with art and literature, should be for lawyers and engineers as well as for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/the-study-of-history-and-philosophy-accompanied-by-some-acquaintance/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The love of new acquaintance comes not so much from being weary of what we had before, or from any satisfaction there is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-love-of-new-acquaintance-comes-not-so-much-from-being-weary-of/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/one-frequently-only-finds-out-how-really-beautiful-a-women-is-until/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I'd rather be a nodding acquaintance, than a bobble head”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-d-rather-be-a-nodding-acquaintance-than-a-bobble-head/) [Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/) > [In addition to my other numerous acquaintances, I have one more intimate confidant… My depression is the most faithful mistress I have known —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/in-addition-to-my-other-numerous-acquaintances-i-have-one-more/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [God is a spirit. Jesus was led up of the Spirit to be tempted of the Devil; and it is also true that spirits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradlaugh/god-is-a-spirit-jesus-was-led-up-of-the-spirit-to-be-tempted-of-the/) [Charles Bradlaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradlaugh/) > [ \[On an anarchist acquaintance:\] Everything in appearance the most alarmist aunt could wish. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/on-an-anarchist-acquaintance-everything-in-appearance-the-most/) [Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/) > [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [ \[Books\] will visit you at your convenience, whether you are lonesome or not, on rainy days or fair. 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