"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers"

Daniel J. Boorstin’s clever observation reflects on the layered nature of greatness in modern society. He recalls Shakespeare’s famous division, some are born into prominence, others work diligently toward it, but adds a wry, contemporary twist: in today’s world, greatness is also constructed, sometimes manufactured, by those savvy enough to manage their public image. The humor lies in equating the organic, often arduous pathways to greatness with the strategic, calculated efforts of public relations professionals.

The contemporary era is marked by media saturation, constant connectivity, and a blurring of authenticity and presentation. While natural talent, good fortune, and hard work remain factors in success, Boorstin points to a third path, one that relies on shaping perceptions rather than achieving traditional merits. By hiring skilled communicators, individuals and organizations build reputations that sometimes outpace their actual accomplishments. This manufactured greatness suggests that what the public perceives might be a constructed narrative, rather than an accurate representation of character or achievement.

Boorstin’s quip also gestures toward cultural anxieties about authenticity and substance. In a landscape shaped by advertising and public relations, appearance can become reality. The implication is not just that some people fake greatness, but that social systems now reward the skillful management of images as much, if not more, than tangible actions or inherent nobility. Recognition and status become subject to manipulation, and the boundary between true achievement and clever self-promotion grows hazy.

His aphorism offers a critique but also a warning, suggesting that what passes for greatness today may often owe more to public relations than to merit. As societies wrestle with celebrity culture, media narratives, and carefully curated personal brands, Boorstin’s observation reminds readers to question what lies behind the cultivated facades and to look deeper for genuine accomplishment amidst the noise.