So many stars in the sky, each unique and full of destiny. I wanted more than anything to be part of those stars.I never realized becoming one would destroy me.

O Woman - Allah has made you the Queen of Piety and Modesty, Don't belittle yourself to be the slave of unlawful admiration and mortal fame & fortune.

I ran across an excerpt today (in English translation) of some dialogue/narration from the modern popular writer, Paulo Coelho in his book: Aleph.(Note: bracketed text is mine.)... 'I spoke to three scholars,' [the character says 'at last.'] ...Two of them said that, after death, the [sic (misprint, fault of the publisher)] just go to Paradise. The third one, though, told me to consult some verses from the Koran. [end quote]' ...I can see that he's excited. [narrator]' ...Now I have many positive things to say about Coelho: He is respectable, inspiring as a man, a truth-seeker, and an appealing writer; but one should hesitate to call him a 'literary' writer based on this quote. A 'literary' author knows that a character's excitement should be 'shown' in his or her dialogue and not in the narrator's commentary on it. Advice for Coelho: Remove the 'I can see that he's excited' sentence and show his excitement in the phrasing of his quote.(Now, in defense of Coelho, I am firmly of the opinion, having myself written plenty of prose that is flawed, that a novelist should be forgiven for slipping here and there.)Lastly, it appears that a belief in reincarnation is of great interest to Mr. Coelho ... Just think! He is a man who has achieved, (as Leonard Cohen would call it), 'a remote human possibility.' He has won lots of fame and tons of money. And yet, how his preoccupation with reincarnation—none other than an interest in being born again as somebody else—suggests that he is not happy!

Sarcasm is the new staircase to stardom.

NEVER SACRIFICE YOUR VALUES & MORALS FOR RICHES OR FAME. IT'S A PAYMENT THAT'S NON-REFUNDABLE.

He knows how to market himself well. Nowadays, that's all that seems to count. He's rebellious in a way that appeals to people with vain, shallow taste. So of course he manipulates his audiences with the blessing of his recording company and the financial investors behind his brand.

The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation p.

Back then: to be regarded as well-known, one had to be great. Today: to be regarded as great, one has to be well-known.

Fame and fortune are calling. Are we taking the call or blocking the number?

It's all a popularity contest, which unfortunately often has more to do with good looks rather than actual talent.