"A life without fame can be a good life, but fame without a life is no life at all"

This quote by Clive James talks to the significance of having a meaningful life. He suggests that a life without fame can still be an excellent life, however fame without a life is not worth having. This implies that popularity is not the most important thing in life, which having a life filled with meaningful experiences and relationships is more important than popularity. He is recommending that fame is not a substitute for a life, and that it is insufficient to make a life rewarding. Instead, he is stressing the value of having a life that is full of happiness, love, and function. He is recommending that fame should not be the goal, but rather a by-product of a life well-lived. Eventually, this quote is a suggestion that life is more than fame, and that having a life loaded with significant experiences is more important than popularity.