Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.

Boorstin contrasts two kinds of public recognition. “Heroes” are figures whose actions or achievements continue to matter as time passes; their reputations are tested, clarified, and often strengthened by historical perspective. “Celebrities,” by contrast, are products of attention—famous largely for being known—and their prominence depends on novelty, media circulation, and the public’s shifting interests. Time “dissolves” celebrity because the conditions that created it (fashion, publicity, spectacle) fade quickly, while time “makes” heroes by separating enduring contribution from momentary hype. The line encapsulates Boorstin’s broader critique of modern image-making and manufactured fame.