the newspapers. There are many people, however, who
genuinely do not seek fame - either because they lack
confidence and do not like being in the limelight, or
perhaps because they have a low opinion of themselves.

Fame, as we know, often - but not always - brings
wealth. It brings wealth to people in certain professions:
actors and film directors, rock singers, sportsmen, and so
on. Most people who seek fame, however, do so not for the
benefits it brings but for its own sake - mindful, perhaps,
of the immortal example of Herostrates, who is said to
have burnt down the temple of Diana for the sole reason
that he wanted to achieve fame (a purpose in which, it
must be said, he succeeded admirably, for here we are
still talking about him centuries later). Even today we
see loutish youths, barely in their teens, committing
hideous crimes of the kind they see on television with the
sole aim of becoming famous. At the other end of the scale
there are people who already possess the things that
sometimes result from fame, such as great wealth, and
yet prefer to avoid fame itself and remain unknown. In
general, however, fame is considered desirable in itself,
and not merely as a means of obtaining other desirable
goods.

Fame, by its very nature, is given to few: its rarity is
part of its definition. It has been said (by Andy Warhol,
who was famous) that one day we shall all have our
fifteen minutes of fame; this, however, is nonsense. It is

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