Strauss’s, for instance, which begins in the heavens. The…
““Strauss’s, for instance, which begins in the heavens. The artist doesn’t ascend to glory, he appears in it, he already has it and the world is prepared to recognize him. Meteoric, like a comet—those are the phrases we apply, and it’s true, it is a kind of burning. It makes them highly visible, and at the same time it consumes them, and it’s only afterwards, when the brilliance is gone, when their bones are lying alongside those of lesser men, that one can really judge. I mean, there are famous works, renowned in antiquity, and today absolutely forgotten: books, buildings, works of art.””
About This Quote
Describes the fleeting nature of fame: brilliance burns brightly like a comet, gaining visibility but ultimately consuming the creator, leaving later judgment to history.
In simple terms: Fame is a burning comet.
Key Takeaway
Great works can be forgotten.
Themes
impermanence
celebrity
artistic legacy
historical revisionism
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
aphorism
reflection
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- cultural history studies
Key Concepts
visibility
consumption
Practical Applications
- critical essays
- museum curation
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do societies forget once‑celebrated works?
- Can brilliance be preserved without consumption?