Dante predicted his own fame.

Kepler said it did not matter whether his contemporaries read his books or not.

"I may well wait a century for a reader since God has waited six thousand years for an observer like myself." "Fear not," said Julius Caesar to his pilot frightened in a storm, "thou bearest Caesar and his good fortunes." When the Directory at Paris found that Napoleon had become in one month the most famous man in Europe they determined to check his career, and appointed Kellerman his associate in command.

Napoleon promptly, but respectfully, tendered his resignation, saying, "One bad general is better than two good ones; war, like government, is mainly decided by tact." This decision immediately brought the Directory to terms.
Emperor Francis was extremely anxious to prove the illustrious descent of his prospective son-in-law.

Napoleon refused to have the account published, remarking, "I had rather be the descendant of an honest man than of any petty tyrant of Italy.