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What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Albert Pike
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Our individual achievements fade away, but the impact we make on others endures beyond our lifetime.

This quote by Albert Pike reflects the idea that personal accomplishments are transient and will only be remembered as long as we are alive. In contrast, the contributions we make to the lives of others and society at large have a lasting effect, creating a legacy that transcends our existence. It emphasizes the value of altruism and encourages individuals to focus on collective well-being rather than mere self-interest.

Themes

LegacyAltruismImmortalityImpactHumanity

In practice

Example use cases

During a charity event to inspire donations, you might say this quote to illustrate the importance of giving.

More from Albert Pike

Less glory is more liberty. When the drum is silent, reason sometimes speaks.
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He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current... Only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on toward ultimate success.
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Let us drink together, fellows, as we did in days of yore. And still enjoy the golden hours that Fortune has in store; The absent friends remembered be, in all that’s sung or said, And Love immortal consecrate the memory of the dead.
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War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.
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Two forms of government are favorable to the prevalence of falsehood and deceit. Under a Despotism, men are false, treacherous, and deceitful through fear, like slaves dreading the lash. Under a Democracy they are so as a means of attaining popularity and office, and because of the greed for wealth.
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Philosophy is a kind of journey, ever learning yet never arriving at the ideal perfection of truth.
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