The Buddha uses a simile of a dart dipped in poison to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

At Sāvatthi.

"Bhikkhus, acquisitions (gain, money, profit, possessions [lābhā]), respect (honor, accolade, reverence [sakkāra]), and popularity (fame, praise [siloka]) are harsh, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Whom should a barbless (without the spike, a danger that is intangible but deeply piercing [visalla]) dart dipped in poison (smeared with venom [diddhagata]) strike, bhikkhus? Let acquisitions, respect, and popularity reach a trainee whose mind has not yet reached the goal (not mentally attained, not reached Arahantship [appattamānasa]).

The term 'dart', bhikkhus, is a designation for acquisitions, respect, and popularity.

Thus, bhikkhus, acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe; they obstruct the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: 'We will abandon the arisen acquisitions, respect and popularity, and we will not let the arisen acquisitions, respect, and popularity continue to occupy (obsess, control [pariyādāya]) our minds.' Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves."

Related Teachings:

The eight worldly conditions (AN 8.5) - The Buddha describes in brief the eight worldly conditions that revolve around the world and the world revolves around them - gain and loss, disgrace and fame, blame and praise, pleasure, and pain.

Dung Beetle (SN 17.5) - The Buddha shares a simile of a dung beetle to explain how acquisitions, respect, and popularity are harsh, bitter, and severe, obstructing the attainment of the unsurpassed safety from bondage.

Reviewing one's failings and successes from time to time (AN 8.7) - The Buddha advises the bhikkhus to review their own failings and the failings of others, and to overcome acquisitions, loss, fame, disrepute, honor, dishonor, evil wishes, and evil friendship.___