"Ser famoso es una desventaja para pasar desapercibido."
/sehr fah-MOH-soh es OO-nah des-ven-TAH-hah PAH-rah pah-SAHR deh-sah-pehr-see-BEE-doh/
Being famous is a disadvantage for going unnoticed.
💡 Understanding the Quote
"Ser famoso es una desventaja para pasar desapercibido."
🎨 Visual Representation
Borges's quote captures the paradox of fame: being seen by everyone makes it impossible to be just anyone.
🔑 Key Words
📖 Context
A well-known aphorism by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges. While not from a specific book, it's widely attributed to him from interviews and public statements, reflecting his own complex feelings about achieving global fame late in his life.
📝 In Action
El actor se quejaba de no poder ir al supermercado tranquilo. Como decía Borges, 'ser famoso es una desventaja para pasar desapercibido'.
B2The actor was complaining that he couldn't go to the supermarket in peace. As Borges used to say, 'being famous is a disadvantage for going unnoticed'.
A veces me gustaría ser invisible en las reuniones familiares. Ya sabes, la desventaja de pasar desapercibido.
B1Sometimes I'd like to be invisible at family gatherings. You know, the disadvantage of not being able to go unnoticed.
✍️ About the Author
📜 Historical Context
Jorge Luis Borges was a profoundly intellectual and private man who spent most of his life as a librarian and writer, relatively unknown outside of literary circles. When he achieved international fame later in life, he found the constant public attention jarring. This quote is a perfect expression of his personal discomfort with a status he never actively sought.
🌍 Cultural Significance
This quote has become a touchstone for discussions about modern celebrity culture, privacy, and the internet. In an age of social media where everyone can have a public profile, Borges's observation feels more relevant than ever. It's an intellectual's take on a problem that now affects many people, not just movie stars.
📚 Literary Analysis
This is a classic aphorism—a short, clever statement that reveals a surprising truth. Its power comes from its perfect irony. It takes a concept everyone sees as an advantage (fame) and reframes it as a disadvantage from a different perspective. This love for paradox and shifting perspectives is a hallmark of Borges's writing.
⭐ Usage Tips
For Witty Social Commentary
Use this quote to add a touch of intellectual wit when discussing the downsides of celebrity, the loss of privacy in the digital age, or the irony of public life.
As a Humorous Exaggeration
You can use it ironically to describe a much smaller situation, like when you run into someone you know while you're trying to quickly run errands in your sweatpants.
🔗 Related Quotes
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: Ser famoso es una desventaja para pasar desapercibido.
Question 1 of 2
Who is famously credited with the quote 'Ser famoso es una desventaja para pasar desapercibido'?
🏷️ Categories
Themes:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this quote meant to be funny or serious?
It's both. It functions as dry, intellectual humor (a witty observation), but it points to a serious philosophical issue about the conflict between a person's public image and their private self.
Did Borges dislike being famous?
It's more accurate to say he was ambivalent. He was a very private, bookish person, so the demands of public life were often a burden for him. This quote perfectly captures that feeling of ambivalence.