Buzz
When someone achieves what many would call a dream job, gaining both fame and wealth, it’s natural to expect a sense of gratitude. Even when a person excels or becomes the best in their field, it’s often assumed they had a deep passion driving them. However, there are cases where the most accomplished individuals believe their work is ultimately meaningless, lacking any extraordinary purpose.
10. Robert E. Lee
Among enthusiasts of the American Civil War, Robert E. Lee is held in such high regard that historians find it challenging to discuss him objectively, often referring to him as the 'marble man.' From 1862 to 1865, he led the Army of Northern Virginia with such skill that he defended the Confederate capital, Richmond, and nearly secured victory twice, despite frequently facing forces more than double his size. A graduate of the esteemed West Point Academy, Lee earned the rare distinction of never receiving a single demerit. His exceptional service during the Mexican-American War led General Winfield Scott to recommend him for command of all Union armies—a position he declined to remain loyal to Virginia. Although he was said to oppose slavery, his primary allegiance was to his home state. Despite this, he once remarked:
“The great mistake of my life was taking a military education.”
Following the Civil War, Lee assumed the role of a college president. During faculty and student marches, he deliberately avoided marching in step as a subtle form of protest. It’s uncommon for individuals in their later years to so openly express disdain for the military discipline that shaped their lives.
9. Orson Welles
Orson Welles directed, wrote, and starred in Citizen Kane, which the American Film Institute hailed as the greatest American film ever made. He also created works like Touch of Evil, which remain so highly regarded that decades later, they were re-edited to align more closely with his original vision. These are just a few examples from his vast collection of masterpieces spanning film, theater, and radio. However, as previously noted, his career faced significant challenges, particularly in securing funding for projects outside the studio system. Many of his films were either left unfinished or deviated far from his initial intentions. Reflecting on these struggles in an interview featured in the documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane, Welles remarked:
“I wish I’d left movies immediately . . . It’s 2 percent moviemaking and 98 percent hustling. That’s no way to spend a life.”
Given that he was one of the most respected artists of his era and the fact that opportunities for independent filmmakers haven’t improved much today, this statement serves as a compelling reason to reconsider pursuing a career as an indie filmmaker.
8. Serena Williams
Serena Williams is one of those extraordinary athletes whose fame transcends their sport, becoming a household name even among those with little interest in tennis. She has secured multiple gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics and boasts numerous Grand Slam titles. It’s no surprise she has been ranked the world’s top female tennis player. Despite her success, she once expressed:
“It’s not that I’ve fallen out of love; I’ve actually never liked sports, and I never understood how I became an athlete.”
Professional sports aren’t typically a field people accidentally find themselves in. What’s particularly intriguing is that her lack of interest wasn’t limited to tennis but extended to sports in general.
“I don’t like working out; I don’t like anything that has to do with working physically.”
This statement sounds less like it’s coming from a 33-year-old sports champion and more like an unusually candid slacker. It’s a reminder that even the most accomplished athletes sometimes share the average person’s wish to relax and avoid physical exertion.
7. Terry Gilliam
Monty Python is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedy groups in history. As the mind behind the iconic interstitial animations in Monty Python’s Flying Circus, the co-director of their most successful film, and more, Gilliam ranks among the top five contributors to the group’s enduring legacy. However, he holds some deeply critical and politically charged views about comedy, as he revealed in a 2003 biography about The Pythons:
“I’ve always been troubled by comedy and satire because laughter often distracts people from getting angry enough to take the necessary actions to improve the world. It’s more of a diversion than a tool for solving problems.”
This perspective offers a stark contrast to those who respond to significant global events with nothing more than sarcasm or humor.
6. Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan has cemented his status as a polarizing figure through his involvement in controversial shows like Fear Factor, where he encouraged contestants to eat insects, and his stint as one of the unpopular replacement co-hosts on The Man Show. Today, he is better known for his contributions to mixed martial arts, his thought-provoking comedy podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, and his stand-up comedy. However, before these ventures, Rogan gained recognition as a supporting actor on Newsradio. While the NBC show struggled with ratings during its original run, its viewership of 11 million per episode would be considered a massive success today. Despite this, on the commentary track for the Newsradio episode “Goofy Ball,” he showed little appreciation for the profession that launched his career:
“Acting has to be one of the most overrated professions in existence. Think about it—people attend the Academy Awards and cry because they did a good job pretending to be someone else.”
Such blunt honesty about the acting profession is rare, especially from someone who spent years earning a living from it (unless, of course, they’re snubbed during Oscar season).
5. Alan Moore
Alan Moore is the creative force behind some of the most celebrated superhero comics. Works like The Killing Joke, Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow, and For the Man Who Has Everything have left an indelible mark on DC’s iconic characters, Batman and Superman. Additionally, his timeless masterpieces Watchmen and V for Vendetta have cemented his legacy. However, Moore is equally known for his ambitious comic projects and his growing dissatisfaction with how filmmakers and publishers have handled his superhero stories. During the 2010 Magus Conference, when asked about a rumored superhero opera collaboration with the band Gorillaz, Moore made his feelings about superhero comics crystal clear:
“I don’t want anything to do with those wretched creatures ever again.”
Given the flood of superhero movies in recent years, many comic book fans might find themselves nodding in agreement with that sentiment.
4. Penn Jillette
Penn and Teller are among the most renowned magicians of our time, alongside names like Criss Angel, David Blaine, and David Copperfield. From their infamous stunt of releasing hundreds of cockroaches on David Letterman’s The Late Show in the 1980s to their appearances on Saturday Night Live and their long-running shows on Broadway and in Las Vegas, they’ve earned numerous accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Their success stems from their meticulously crafted and often humorous magic acts. However, Penn Jillette has some harsh words about the art of magic:
“Magic is a despicable art form, and magicians are even more contemptible than jugglers.”
Jillette specifically mentioned jugglers because, before partnering with Teller and becoming a magician, he was a professional juggler. He explained that the inherently lowbrow nature of magic is what attracted him and Teller to the craft—they aimed to elevate it by embracing and manipulating its deceptive essence. However, as anyone familiar with magic tricks used to deceive others can attest, their efforts to reform the art form weren’t entirely successful.
3. Vincent Price
Vincent Price, a celebrated actor often overlooked by critics, became a staple of horror films starting in the 1950s. He also took on villainous roles in mainstream classics like The Ten Commandments and The Great Mouse Detective. Beyond acting, he gained recognition as an art collector and critic, leading to Sears, Roebuck & Company offering a “Vincent Price Collection of Fine Art.” While he’s best known for his roles in low-budget films, his connection to the fine art world is arguably stronger than someone like Joe Rogan. Yet, his view of his profession wasn’t much kinder:
“Someone once called actors ‘Sculptures in snow.’ It’s very fitting. In the end, it all amounts to nothing.”
If a career that has brought entertainment and joy to millions for decades—and will continue to do so—is considered nothing, how much more meaningful are paintings and other forms of fine art?
2. The Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, is frequently hailed as Britain’s greatest military leader. Throughout the Napoleonic Wars, he secured countless victories and played a pivotal role in freeing Spain from French control. His crowning achievement was defeating Napoleon at Waterloo. Remarkably, as a commander, he never suffered a single defeat. Unlike Robert E. Lee, whose Civil War legacy was marred by losses and surrender, Wellington’s career concluded with an impeccable record:
“I despise war and would be the last to advocate for violence.”
Wellington expressed this view after retiring from military service, aiming to distance himself from the image of a war enthusiast. This sentiment remained consistent throughout his life. Following the Battle of Waterloo, he remarked while observing the battlefield strewn with casualties:
“Believe me, nothing is as sorrowful as a battle won, except perhaps a battle lost.”
1. H.P. Lovecraft
H.P. Lovecraft is a legendary figure in the horror genre, known for creating iconic characters like Cthulhu. He is equally famous for his reclusive lifestyle, which contrasts sharply with the more social lives of many successful writers. Preferring solitude, he often wrote lengthy letters to friends rather than engaging in face-to-face interactions. In a 1924 letter to his friend Frank Long, he shared his thoughts on living through imagination rather than real-world experiences, offering a harsh critique of those who lead similar isolated lives:
“Books are fragile creations. No matter how many classics we’ve read, neither you nor I can experience even a fraction of the joy that Greece and Rome offer to the millionaire who, with his yacht and car, can bask endlessly under Mediterranean skies, soaking in their splendor through all five senses—a glory we can only glimpse through the narrow lens of imagination.”
It’s a truth that those who romanticize the power of fiction and the idea of books as gateways to imaginary worlds may find hard to accept.
