kill your heroes

English

Etymology

Perhaps influenced by kill your darlings.

Proverb

kill your heroes

1. You should not idolize specific people (particularly celebrities), as this will distort your perception of those you idolize.

   Synonym: kill your idols

   • 2014, Marcus O’Dair, Different Every Time: The Authorised Biography of Robert Wyatt:

     Daevid believes the visa problem that removed him so abruptly from The Soft Machine in late August 1967 probably accelerated an inevitable split. He believes his role in the band was that of catalyst — and, as he notes, you've got to kill your heroes.

   • 2019, Will Larson, An Elegant Puzzle: Systems of Engineering Management:

     Kill your heroes, stop doing it harder.

   • 2022, Linden A. Lewis, The Second Rebel, page 261:

     My Castor: Remember what Uncle Hemlock says: "Kill your heroes."