# Poll: What do you want to be remembered for in years to come? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709 "2004-12-14T01:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/1 "2004-12-14T01:58:10Z")
You can include as many answers as you like. I’ll submit my own in a reply to this thread tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/2 "2004-12-14T02:11:25Z")
Several leaded windows that I’ve built have been installed in restaurants, libraries, and churches in the northeast US, and I’ve been responsible for repairing and restoring many more. I already know what I’ll be remembered for. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/3 "2004-12-14T03:03:40Z")
Doing more good than harm. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/4 "2004-12-14T03:04:59Z")
I teach. ---
**Author:** ![Keapon\_Laffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e274bd/32.png) [@Keapon\_Laffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keapon_Laffin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/5 "2004-12-14T03:15:52Z")
As long as theres a statue involved, I don’t care. 🙂 Maybe the guy who young, pretty women just want to have wild, passionate sex with. ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/6 "2004-12-14T03:27:22Z")
The positive difference I’ve made in a few kids lives. That I was loving, honest, trustworthy, cheerful, dependable and true to my values. That about sums it up. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/7 "2004-12-14T11:46:59Z")
I know my family will never think too ill of me so the only thing I really worry about is being thought of as a good friend. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/8 "2004-12-14T11:59:26Z")
Hopefully being good to my family and friends and with luck doing something that will improve the lives of people (this part I’m still working on) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/9 "2004-12-14T12:10:48Z")
To Laugh Often and Much * * * To Win the Respect of Intelligent People and Affection of Children * * * To Earn the Appreciation of Honest Critics and Endure the Betrayal of False Friends * * * To Appreciate Beauty * * * To Find the Best in Others * * * To Leave the World a Little Better Whether by a Healthy Child A Garden Patch Or a Redeemed Social Condition * * * To Know even One Life Has Breathed easier Because YOU have Lived * * * This is to Have SUCCEEDED -R.W. Emerson ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/10 "2004-12-14T13:30:08Z")
My writing. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/11 "2004-12-14T21:32:26Z")
I’d like to be at least somewhat known as a composer. ---
**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/12 "2004-12-14T22:48:07Z")
When they build my memorial to memorialize (why else?) my Presidency. I want the future members of the SDMB to remind the Planning Commission that all I want is a simple park bench with my name on it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2004, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/13 "2004-12-14T23:41:11Z")
I dont think I will be remembered. Like Warren said in About Schmidt “Relatively soon, I will die. Maybe in 20 years, maybe tomorrow, it doesn’t matter. Once I am dead and everyone who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone. None that I can think of. None at all.” I don’t think my life will affect anyone directly and this bothers me. I guess the best I can hope for is that my presence in the industrialized world as a consumer and producer will help create a more educated, more humane world that people would be glad to bring their kids into. But I dont have any direct influence on anyone as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/14 "2004-12-15T00:24:06Z")
> [@Wesley Clark](#): > > I dont think I will be remembered. Like Warren said in About Schmidt > > “Relatively soon, I will die. Maybe in 20 years, maybe tomorrow, it doesn’t matter. Once I am dead and everyone who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone. None that I can think of. None at all.” Shakespeare said it better: To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. _Macbeth_ V, v Assuming I am not cremated, I intend to have that as my epitaph. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/15 "2004-12-15T01:21:46Z")
“World’s strongest billionaire” wouldn’t be bad. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/16 "2004-12-15T02:13:33Z")
I’d like to be remembered fondly by my kid. If a poem or two survives me, that would be cool too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/17 "2004-12-15T03:06:39Z")
Not dying. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/18 "2004-12-15T03:26:14Z")
Being nice to my dog most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/19 "2004-12-15T18:35:11Z")
For devoting a lot of time and patience in documenting our family history. You would be surprised at how many people just don’t care at all about it. But it will be a written legacy for whomever does have an interest, and every time someone looks at the information for whatever reason, my memory will be evoked. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709/20 "2004-12-15T18:53:59Z")
I’d like to be remembered for making a contribution to, and carrying on the traditions of the great people who invented radio broadcasting in America as we know it. And I’d like to be remembered by my wife as a great husband, because I am going to die before she does. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-what-do-you-want-to-be-remembered-for-in-years-to-come/279709.md?page=2)