"A man does not automatically become a public figure because he happens to build an empire out of chicken fat"

This quote by James Pinckney Miller is a suggestion that success does not always relate to popularity. Developing an empire out of chicken fat is a metaphor for accomplishing success through hard work and devotion. Miller is recommending that even if a person succeeds, it does not immediately make them a public figure. It takes more than just success to become a public figure. It requires a certain level of recognition and respect from the public. Miller is highlighting that success alone does not ensure fame which it takes more than simply effort to end up being a public figure. He is reminding us that popularity is not something that can be accomplished over night and that it needs a particular level of commitment and commitment.