In full view of his television audience, he preached a new religion--or a new form of Christianity--based on faith in financial mi...racles and in a Heaven here on earth with a water slide and luxury hotels. It was a religion of celebrity and showmanship and fun, which made a mockery of all puritanical standards and all canons of good taste. Its standard was excess, and its doctrines were tolerance and freedom from accountability.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his image or trademark. The hero created himself; the celebrity is... created by the media. The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
The star is the ultimate American verification of Jean Jacques Rousseau's Emile. His mere existence proves the perfectability of a...ny man or woman. Oh wonderful pliability of human nature, in a society where anyone can become a celebrity! And where any celebrity ... may become a star!LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Celebrity-worship and hero-worship should not be confused. Yet we confuse them every day, and by doing so we come dangerously clos...e to depriving ourselves of all real models. We lose sight of the men and women who do not simply seem great because they are famous but are famous because they are great. We come closer and closer to degrading all fame into notoriety.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
My great comfort is, that the temporary celebrity I have wrung from the world has been in the very teeth of all opinions and preju...dices. I have flattered no ruling powers; I have never concealed a single thought that tempted me.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
"Have we any control over being born?," my friend asked in despair. "No, the job is done for us while we're sleeping, so to speak,... and when we wake up everything is all set. We merely appear, like an ornate celebrity wheeled out in a wheelchair." "I don't remember," my friend claimed. "No need to," I said: "what need have us free-loaders for any special alertness? We're done for."LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
Consciousness is cerebral celebrity--nothing more and nothing less. Those contents are conscious that persevere, that monopolize r...esources long enough to achieve certain typical and "symptomatic" effects--on memory, on the control of behavior and so forth.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »
It is certain that every class is interested in [educational] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements..., and to every Country its truest and most durable celebrity.LESSATTRIBUTION DETAIL »