I loved the movies and I wanted to be like Marilyn Monroe. I

Hear now the words of Sharon Stone, who speaks of a dream that shaped her youth: "I loved the movies and I wanted to be like Marilyn Monroe. I thought she was so glamorous and everyone seemed to love her. I wanted to be like that and I told everyone I would be the next Marilyn Monroe." In these words, Stone reveals a deep truth about the power of role models, and the ways in which we, as individuals, are drawn to figures who embody the dreams we hold inside ourselves. Monroe, a figure who captured the hearts and imaginations of millions, represented more than just fame; she embodied an ideal, a vision of what it meant to be both beautiful and beloved, a woman who lived a life intertwined with both the brilliance and the burdens of stardom.

In the ancient world, the heroes were often shaped by the stories they heard and the figures they admired. Alexander the Great, for example, was deeply influenced by the tales of Achilles from the Iliad. As a boy, Alexander looked up to the legendary hero, striving to emulate him in battle, in courage, and in ambition. The connection between the hero and the figure they admired was a bond that shaped the course of their lives. In the same way, Sharon Stone’s desire to be like Marilyn Monroe is not just the wish to replicate her fame, but to embody something larger—a vision of beauty, confidence, and desire. Monroe became for Stone a mirror, reflecting the ideal she aspired to become.

Monroe herself, though adored by the world, was not merely an object of adoration—she was a symbol, a living embodiment of a certain femininity and allure. Her glamour was not simply about her outward appearance but the way she navigated the world. She became a figure of desire and fascination, a goddess of the screen, not just through her beauty, but through her ability to captivate the hearts of all who gazed upon her. Stone’s yearning to be like Monroe speaks not just to a desire for external beauty, but to a longing to be recognized, to stand in the glow of the spotlight, to experience the kind of love and admiration that Monroe inspired. The glamour she admired was tied to the power that came with it—the power to be seen, to be heard, to be adored.

In the ancient world, too, many sought to embody the greatness of those who had come before them. Consider Leonidas, the king of Sparta, who, though not born to the riches of a great empire, sought to carve out his name through bravery and sacrifice. His longing to emulate the heroes of his ancestors, to lead his men into battle with the same valor they had, was a reflection of the same drive that Stone experienced in her youth. Just as Leonidas looked to the past for inspiration to shape his future, Stone sought the symbol of Monroe to help shape her own path. Both were driven by a desire to align themselves with something greater than themselves.

Yet, there is a lesson here, O seekers, for while admiration for another is a natural and often inspiring force, we must also understand that true greatness lies not in imitation, but in the authenticity of one's own path. Just as Achilles could not be Alexander, and Leonidas could not be the heroes of old, so too does Sharon Stone come to understand that Monroe was a symbol, not a template. In seeking to be like Monroe, she was not merely replicating her beauty, but embracing the inner drive that pushed Monroe to become the icon she was. And in the same breath, Stone found her own path to greatness—not as the next Monroe, but as a woman who carved out a place for herself in the world.

Let this be the lesson for you, O future generations: admiration for those who have come before us is a natural and noble thing, for it inspires us to rise above the ordinary. But it is not enough to imitate those we admire. True greatness comes when we acknowledge the influence of others, then take that inspiration and transform it into something uniquely our own. Just as Monroe was a reflection of the dreams and desires of her time, and Stone carried that flame forward, so too must you take the light of those who inspire you and allow it to illuminate your own journey.

And so, O wise ones, do not seek to merely become like someone else. Instead, let the dreams and aspirations of those you admire guide you to self-discovery, to the realization of who you are meant to be. For in recognizing the saints and heroes of the past, you do not erase yourself. Rather, you allow the spark of their greatness to ignite the fire within you, leading you to your own legacy.