---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think fame is something that you've…"
description: "\"I think fame is something that you've achieved in your inner self that becomes known to others outside you. There are really very few famous people in ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/james-purdy-18263_fame_i-think-fame-is-something-that-you-ve-ac_2847051.png"
---

#  I think fame is something that you've achieved in your…

![“I think fame is something that you've achieved in your inner self that becomes known to others outside you. There are really very few famous people in history.” quote by James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/james-purdy-18263_fame_i-think-fame-is-something-that-you-ve-ac_2847051.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/james-purdy-18263_fame_i-think-fame-is-something-that-you-ve-ac_2847051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a80/james-purdy-18263_fame_i-think-fame-is-something-that-you-ve-ac_2847051.png)

> “I think fame is something that you've achieved in your inner self that becomes known to others outside you. There are really very few famous people in history.”

[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

## 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 an inner self‑realization that becomes visible externally; true fame is rare throughout history.

**In simple terms:** Fame starts inside, then becomes known.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate inner worth before seeking fame.

Themes

fame self‑realization rarity history

Mood

contemplative inspirational

Type

philosophical advice

When to use this quote

- career ambition
- personal development
- legacy building

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you define personal success?
- Is inner fame more valuable than public fame?

A Different Perspective

External fame can be fleeting and superficial.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

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## Related quotes

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[Katherine Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-ryan/)

> [I try to not think too much about how people are receiving my music. And I'm not really famous enough that it's a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-holter/i-try-to-not-think-too-much-about-how-people-are-receiving-my-music/)

[Julia Holter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-holter/)

> [There was a time when I couldn't pay my mortgage, and I was really famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-hammond/there-was-a-time-when-i-couldn-t-pay-my-mortgage-and-i-was-really/)

[Alison Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-hammond/)

> [It's funny; I think I'm at a level of recognizability - is that even a word? - where it's just really nice. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-woods/it-s-funny-i-think-i-m-at-a-level-of-recognizability-is-that-even-a/)

[Zach Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-woods/)

> [I'm not in it for fame. I've been famous in the streets already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nipsey-hussle/i-m-not-in-it-for-fame-i-ve-been-famous-in-the-streets-already/)

[Nipsey Hussle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nipsey-hussle/)

> [Sometimes I'm uncomfortable with the level of fame I've got! It all depends on the day and what's going on. I don't desire any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-seymour-hoffman/sometimes-i-m-uncomfortable-with-the-level-of-fame-i-ve-got-it-all/)

[Philip Seymour Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-seymour-hoffman/)

> [The only good thing about fame that I've gotten is I've gotten out of a couple of speeding tickets. I've gotten into a restaurant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/the-only-good-thing-about-fame-that-i-ve-gotten-is-i-ve-gotten-out-of/)

[Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/)

> [I'm shy, paranoid, whatever word you want to use. I hate fame. I've done everything I can to avoid it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-m-shy-paranoid-whatever-word-you-want-to-use-i-hate-fame-i-ve-done/)

[Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/)

> [I've never wanted fame. I've only ever wanted recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-calzaghe/i-ve-never-wanted-fame-i-ve-only-ever-wanted-recognition/)

[Joe Calzaghe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-calzaghe/)

## More by James Purdy

> [In a competitive society, the thing people fear the most is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/in-a-competitive-society-the-thing-people-fear-the-most-is-love/)

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[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

> [No one looks at a television, and no one hears it. It's a poison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/no-one-looks-at-a-television-and-no-one-hears-it-it-s-a-poison/)

[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

> [Feeling is taboo, especially in New York. I read in some little magazine the other day that The New Yorker and The New York…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/feeling-is-taboo-especially-in-new-york-i-read-in-some-little/)

[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

> [I am against all machines. It's no wonder that so many Americans go on dope when they have no other cultural stimulus than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/i-am-against-all-machines-it-s-no-wonder-that-so-many-americans-go-on/)

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> [Margaret Meade is always running around saying that marijuana's just like bread and water! Well, bread and water are poison, and marijuana's a poison.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/margaret-meade-is-always-running-around-saying-that-marijuana-s-just/)

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> [I don't have any home. Everyone I grew up with, my family, are all dead. So I feel kind of like a ghost. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/i-don-t-have-any-home-everyone-i-grew-up-with-my-family-are-all-dead/)

[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

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[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

> [I think America, really, is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-purdy/i-think-america-really-is-over/)

[James Purdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

[Explore all 35 James Purdy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-purdy/)

## 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/)

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[Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/)

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[Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/)

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[Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/)

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[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/)

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[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/)

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