--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fame, like the river, is narrowest where…" description: "\"Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.\" — William Davenant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg" --- # Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and… ![“Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.” quote by William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg) > “Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.” [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) ## 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 most constrained at its source and expands with distance. **In simple terms:** Fame is tight at home, wide elsewhere. Key Takeaway Recognize that reputation grows beyond immediate circles. Themes fame perception growth Mood reflective analytical Type observational philosophical When to use this quote - career advancement - public speaking - networking - media exposure Key Concepts social dynamics reputation management Questions to Reflect On - How does your local reputation limit you? - What steps expand your influence beyond your immediate circle? A Different Perspective Fame can be fleeting and dependent on context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Afar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) [Broadest Afar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broadest-afar-730196/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Like River](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-river/) [Narrowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrowest-730197/) [Narrowest Bred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrowest-bred-730195/) [River Narrowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/river-narrowest-730194/) [Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rivers/) ## Related quotes > [Opera lovers may be the narrowest people in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/opera-lovers-may-be-the-narrowest-people-in-the-world/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I can still stand on life's narrowest footing: but who would I be were I to show you this art. Would you like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-can-still-stand-on-life-s-narrowest-footing-but-who-would-i-be-were/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Time is like a river, you can never touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jado/time-is-like-a-river-you-can-never-touch-the-same-water-twice-because/) [Jado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jado/) > [A book is kind of like a river; I simply jump in and start swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-carlson/a-book-is-kind-of-like-a-river-i-simply-jump-in-and-start-swimming/) [Melody Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-carlson/) > [Like a river flows surely to the sea/Darling so it goes/Some things are meant to be/Take my hand, take my whole life too/For I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-a-river-flows-surely-to-the-sea-darling-so-it-goes-some-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“life is like a river; it just keeps flowin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-curtis/life-is-like-a-river-it-just-keeps-flowin/) [Amy Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-curtis/) > [A real relationship is like a river; the deeper it gets the less noise it makes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/a-real-relationship-is-like-a-river-the-deeper-it-gets-the-less-noise/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [“I had no plans of any destination. I wish to flow like a river.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-had-no-plans-of-any-destination-i-wish-to-flow-like-a-river/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [An individual human existence should be like a river](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/an-individual-human-existence-should-be-like-a-river/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [True Love is like a river, Someone will might try to stop it. But hearts can always find a way to be together again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharlene05/true-love-is-like-a-river-someone-will-might-try-to-stop-it-but/) [Sharlene05](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharlene05/) > [Like the river, expect life to sweep you gently along but be prepared for the rapids out of nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-the-river-expect-life-to-sweep-you-gently-along-but-be-prepared/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Time was a funny thing... Instead of marching in at a measured pace, it seemed to flow like a river. Quiet days pooled together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thea-harrison/time-was-a-funny-thing-instead-of-marching-in-at-a-measured-pace-it/) [Thea Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thea-harrison/) > [I love you like a river that understands that it must learn to flow differently over waterfalls and to rest in the shallows. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-you-like-a-river-that-understands-that-it-must-learn-to-flow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Certainly fame is like a river, that beareth up things light and swoln, and drowns things weighty and solid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/certainly-fame-is-like-a-river-that-beareth-up-things-light-and-swoln/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“He will use the word "love", and the world will not stop spinning but go right on in its courses, like the river, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/he-will-use-the-word-love-and-the-world-will-not-stop-spinning-but-go/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) ## More by William Davenant > [Honor is the moral conscience of the great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/honor-is-the-moral-conscience-of-the-great/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Actions rare and sudden do commonly proceed from fierce necessity, of else from some oblique design, which is ashamed to show itself in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/actions-rare-and-sudden-do-commonly-proceed-from-fierce-necessity-of/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Since knowledge is but sorrow's spy, It is not safe to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/since-knowledge-is-but-sorrow-s-spy-it-is-not-safe-to-know/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Calamity is the perfect glass wherein we truly see and know ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/calamity-is-the-perfect-glass-wherein-we-truly-see-and-know-ourselves/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Aubade THE lark now leaves his wat'ry nest, And climbing shakes his dewy wings. He takes this window for the East, And to implore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/aubade-the-lark-now-leaves-his-wat-ry-nest-and-climbing-shakes-his/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Praise and Prayer PRAISE is devotion fit for mighty minds, The diff'ring world's agreeing sacrifice; Where Heaven divided faiths united finds: But Prayer in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/praise-and-prayer-praise-is-devotion-fit-for-mighty-minds-the-diff/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [For in a dearth of comforts, we art taught To be contented with the least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/for-in-a-dearth-of-comforts-we-art-taught-to-be-contented-with-the/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Go! dive into the Southern Sea, and when Th'ast found, to trouble the nice sight of men, A swelling pearl, and such whose single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/go-dive-into-the-southern-sea-and-when-th-ast-found-to-trouble-the/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [It is the wit and policy of sin to hate those we have abused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/it-is-the-wit-and-policy-of-sin-to-hate-those-we-have-abused/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [How beautiful is sorrow when it is dressed by virgin innocence! it makes felicity in others seem deformed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/how-beautiful-is-sorrow-when-it-is-dressed-by-virgin-innocence-it/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Generous souls Are still most subject to credulity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/generous-souls-are-still-most-subject-to-credulity/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [What one cannot, another can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/what-one-cannot-another-can/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [To be rich be diligent; move on Like heav'ns great movers that enrich the earth; Whose moment's sloth would show the world undone; And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/to-be-rich-be-diligent-move-on-like-heav-ns-great-movers-that-enrich/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Small are the seeds fate does unheeded sow Of slight beginnings to important ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/small-are-the-seeds-fate-does-unheeded-sow-of-slight-beginnings-to/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Be not with honor's gilded baits beguil'd, Nor think ambition wise, because 'tis brave; For though we like it, as a forward child, 'Tis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/be-not-with-honor-s-gilded-baits-beguil-d-nor-think-ambition-wise/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) [Explore all 29 William Davenant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) ## More Afar quotes > [The Son of God goes forth to war,A kingly crown to gain;His blood red banner streams afar:Who follows in His train?Who best can drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-heber/the-son-of-god-goes-forth-to-war-a-kingly-crown-to-gain-his-blood-red/) [Reginald Heber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reginald-heber/) > [“Can I like you from afar?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bianca-bernardino/can-i-like-you-from-afar/) [Bianca Bernardino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bianca-bernardino/) > [Religion exalts mystery as an unknowable secret that must be sealed in glass like the corpse of an enchanted princess and fearfully worshipped from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lon-milo-duquette/religion-exalts-mystery-as-an-unknowable-secret-that-must-be-sealed/) [Lon Milo DuQuette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lon-milo-duquette/) > [Ah, my brother, it is a far harder thing, and it is afar higher proof of a thorough-going, persistent, Christian principle woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-my-brother-it-is-a-far-harder-thing-and-it-is-afar-higher-proof-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and an be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blessed-is-the-servant-who-loves-his-brother-as-much-when-he-is-sick/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Last but not least my family. My brother Tony, I love you. Thank you for beating me up when I was a kid. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/last-but-not-least-my-family-my-brother-tony-i-love-you-thank-you-for/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) > [I wasn't a 'Battlestar' fan, but I had a lot of respect for the show. I had a lot of friends who worked on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasha-roiz/i-wasn-t-a-battlestar-fan-but-i-had-a-lot-of-respect-for-the-show-i/) [Sasha Roiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasha-roiz/) > [Kindle the taper like the steadfast star Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre till afar An eightfold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-lazarus/kindle-the-taper-like-the-steadfast-star-ablaze-on-evening-s-forehead/) [Emma Lazarus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-lazarus/) > [Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/our-birth-is-but-a-sleep-and-a-forgetting-the-soul-that-rises-with-us-2/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [There is so much more to the things that we think we know from afar. The close you get the more complex it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-meiselas/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-things-that-we-think-we-know-from-afar/) [Susan Meiselas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-meiselas/) > [There is good government when those who are near are made happy, and when those who are afar are attracted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-good-government-when-those-who-are-near-are-made-happy-and/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I like Stella McCartney, Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Aaron Featherstone, normal Chanel if I can ever afford it, I'd be wearing that all the time!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittany-snow/i-like-stella-mccartney-chloe-alexander-mcqueen-aaron-featherstone/) [Brittany Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittany-snow/) > [The New England Patriots have always been a special organization and I've always watched from afar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/the-new-england-patriots-have-always-been-a-special-organization-and/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Time past, present, and to come, as also depth and height, near and afar off, are all one in God, one comprehensibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-bohme/time-past-present-and-to-come-as-also-depth-and-height-near-and-afar/) [Jakob Bohme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-bohme/) > [In the glory which overhangs Palestine afar off, we imagine emotions which never come, when we tread the soil and walk over the hallowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-taylor/in-the-glory-which-overhangs-palestine-afar-off-we-imagine-emotions/) [Bayard Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-taylor/) [Browse all 212 Afar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/afar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Davenant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-it-is-bred-and-broadest-afar/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Afar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-it-is-bred-and-broadest-afar/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/213/william-davenant-21204_afar_fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-i_2468111.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fame, like the river, is narrowest where it is bred, and broadest afar off.” — William Davenant", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Davenant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fame, like the river, is narrowest...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-it-is-bred-and-broadest-afar/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/fame-like-the-river-is-narrowest-where-it-is-bred-and-broadest-afar/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```