Book 2 Chapter 7: The Lure of Fame

The Consolation of Philosophy

Fame is a thing of little account when compared with the immensity of the Universe and the endlessness of Time. Philosophy takes Boethius to task for his love of glory. She reminds him of the fleeting nature of human life, and the impermanence of fame. This is the last of the four false pursuits of happiness: wealth, power, pleasure, and honour (as Aristotle would have called them). Bonus Content: We get a visit from Carl Sagan, at the end, echoing Philosophy’s counsel on the foolishness of glory, in his famous “Pale Blue Dot”.