Never Meet Your Heroes: What It Means & If You Should Meet Them

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Why people say this and where it comes from

Co-authored by Bailey Cho Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: April 15, 2025 Fact Checked

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“Never Meet Your Heroes” Meaning

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Why do people say it?

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Where does it come from?

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Why You Should Meet Your Heroes

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Tips

You may have heard the phrase “never meet your heroes,” but what exactly does it mean? In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know about this expression, including where it comes from, why people say it, and why it might be bad advice after all.

“Never Meet Your Heroes” Definition

“Never meet your heroes” is a centuries-old proverb that suggests that meeting your heroes—artists, authors, celebrities, and more—often leads to disappointment because they may not live up to your expectations.

Section 1 of 4:

What does “never meet your heroes” mean?

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It’s a proverb that suggests meeting your idols can lead to disappointment. “Never meet your heroes” is a piece of advice that means people shouldn’t meet their heroes because they may be disappointed by the hero’s true personality. This happens because people tend to idealize people they look up to instead of viewing them as multifaceted humans with flaws, and they may have unrealistic expectations about what will happen when they meet their hero. ^{[1]
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- The hero might not have the time, energy, or interest in meeting their expectations, destroying the perfect image that person has built in their head.
- The logic behind this proverb is that many celebrities craft public personas, and the image they portray online or on camera may be vastly different from how they act in real life.
- With that being said, some people say that meeting your heroes can be a positive experience and serve as a reminder that heroes are no different than normal people.

Section 2 of 4:

Why do people say “never meet your heroes?”

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With the rise of social media, it’s easier than ever to fall for the constructed image of celebrities or influencers instead of viewing them as normal people. There are countless videos and discussions online (like this Reddit thread ) where people have shared their “never meet your heroes” stories. Most of these stories talk about meeting a celebrity and being disappointed in the interaction.

Section 3 of 4:

Where does “Never meet your heroes” comes from?

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“Never meet your heroes” has existed since the 19th century. While the exact origins of the “never meet your heroes” are unclear, the concept has been featured in literature for centuries. One of the earliest accounts of the phrase is from Madame Bovary , a French novel by Gustave Flaubert. The original French quote is “Il ne faut pas toucher aux idoles: la dorure en reste aux mains,” which translates to “Don’t touch your idols: a little gold always rubs off.” ^{[2]
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- The phrase became more widespread in the 20th century, since fans would often share stories of meeting their heroes and being let down. Musicians, actors, and other celebrities have also shared the sentiment in interviews, warning people not to put others on a pedestal.

Section 4 of 4:

Why You Should Meet Your Heroes

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You can learn to see them as normal people with weaknesses. Even if you don’t have a positive or memorable experience with your hero, meeting them can remind you that everyone has things they can improve on. Humans are complex, multifaceted beings, and putting anyone on a pedestal is unhealthy. ^{[3]
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Research source} Seeing your hero’s flaws and vulnerabilities can lower your expectations of others, plus make you more forgiving of your own imperfections.
- For example, if you meet a singer and they are rude to you, it can remind you not to idolize them. You can either learn to separate the art from the artist, or stop supporting them.
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You might be able to ask them questions and get advice. If you’re lucky, your hero could be just as amazing as you envisioned them to be, and you may be able to get their wisdom and insights. Meeting them in real life gives you the rare opportunity to ask them questions about how to overcome challenges and get to where they are in their career.
- For example, if you’re a film student, you could ask an actor about how they handle creative differences on set or how they handle rejection.
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You might be able to build a relationship with them. Sometimes, you can meet someone and form an instant connection with them. This may spark a friendship or mentorship, and lead to new opportunities in your career. Meeting your hero, in this case, is just like networking —you form a positive, genuine connection with them and are able to gain contacts, information, and experiences.
- For example, if you’re running a podcast and have an amazing conversation with an author, you could ask them to connect on LinkedIn and invite them for an interview.

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Never Meet Your Heroes is also the title of an adult role-playing game (RPG) on Steam. It was released in 2023, but it’s currently unavailable for purchase on the platform.

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Never Meet Your Heroes: What It Means & If You Should Meet Them

“Never Meet Your Heroes” Definition

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What does “never meet your heroes” mean?

Why do people say “never meet your heroes?”

Where does “Never meet your heroes” comes from?

Why You Should Meet Your Heroes

Expert Q&A

Tips

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