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Contemporary fame can now be much greater than it could be in former times that it has almost crowded out the wish for the slender trickle of admiration derivable from the readers of history. The fame of a film star at the present day far exceeds that of Alexander or Caesar at the height of his career. ... The effect of all this is that admiration is sought in more ephemeral forms than those formerly desired.
Source: Mortals and Others, v.1, 1975
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a brief comment
In an age when the Internet did not exist and there was no television broadcasting, the spread of information was limited. Therefore, even if someone was well-known, most people might have known only their name without having any real understanding of who they were. Today, however, information overflows, and celebrities are being "mass-produced" on a daily basis. As Russell pointed out, the fame of modern celebrities seems to surpass even that of Alexander the Great or Caesar at the height of their power.
Moreover, nowadays even ordinary citizens can, through social media and other means, suddenly become internationally recognized. In fact, almost every day someone seems to "become famous overnight." Yet most of this fame is short-lived, and within two or three weeks nearly all such figures are forgotten. We find ourselves consumed by such trivial information, squandering our time and, in effect, wasting our lives.
Lesson: Avoid living a life in which you idly keep the television or social media on, and instead be mindful of how you spend your time.
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