Weekly Blog Post 1

"Even those who write against fame wish for the fame of having written well, and those who read their works desire the fame of having read them."--Blaise Pascal

WRITING: I feel this quote resonates very practically in today's world. Ever since oral traditions began, people have wanted fame; whether it is through literature, television, or music. We want to be accepted by the public for our work. For the writer, fame helps them feel accomplished, like they have written something really earth-shattering. For those who read these famous texts, they feel more enlightened than their peers.

The purpose of this quote is to show the hypocritical nature of human beings. We cannot deny that we desire fame and recognition to a certain extent. Even the most blissful people want some sense of accomplishment; which comes in the form of comments from our peers and the general public.

There are multiple audiences that are addressed in this quote; two of which are writers and people who read their work. More specifically, Pascal is talking to hypocritical writers who write about the downfalls of fame, yet want fame themselves. He also delivers this message to the reader who feels they have transcended our realm by perusing such a well-known piece of literature.

The context of this quote is in the 1600s when royalty and wealth were valued very highly. I find it intriguing that Pascal was primarily a scientist and mathematician and then switched to theology. This well-roundedness gives this quote some support. It’s not like he was solely a scientist and just concocted this quote to put down writers; he had seen both sides of the spectrum and commented on it.

I felt this quote stood out from the others because it is relevant today, maybe even more so than it was back then. The new generation is more obsessed with fame than ever before, getting a lot of help from the internet. Why do you think YouTube is one of the most popular sites online? The answer is because it makes anyone with a video camera and a computer a celebrity. Children nowadays expect to be famous when they grow up and therefore put minimal effort into tasks not related to their “talent”. We can’t all be stars, someone has to fix those leaky faucets and furnish that wood patio. This obsession with fame has left society with a lot of spoiled kids with minimal skills, a lousy attitude, and an atrocious work ethic.

This quote will definitely circulate around my brain when I start to write papers or express my opinion in other forms of media. I will ask if I am truly being honest with myself while composing my products. Do these media really represent my thoughts or just what society or my peers will be impressed by? One mantra that comes to mind dealing with this quote is “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” People will say the want change in the government, their lifestyle, or their work habits; yet only a small percentage of those people actually go through with that motion.