--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is to be regretted that few persons…" description: "\"It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at any degree of eminence or fame, have written Memorials of themselves, at least such as have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg" --- # It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at… ![“It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at any degree of eminence or fame, have written Memorials of themselves, at least such as have embraced their private as well as their public life.” quote by Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg) > “It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at any degree of eminence or fame, have written Memorials of themselves, at least such as have embraced their private as well as their public life.” [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author laments that notable individuals rarely document both their private and public lives in memoirs. **In simple terms:** Famous people seldom write full personal histories. Key Takeaway Encourage comprehensive self‑recording. Themes humility legacy self‑reflection Mood reflective thoughtful Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - personal journals - family histories - academic research - public archives Key Concepts biography privacy historical record Questions to Reflect On - What motivates someone to share private details? - How does public fame affect personal honesty? A Different Perspective Many may lack the time or desire to write such accounts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Memorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorial/) [Memorials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorials/) [Public life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-life/) ## Related quotes > [“It is always easier, particularly in what was once a deeply religious country, to erect memorials and deliver sermons than to look the angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-buruma/it-is-always-easier-particularly-in-what-was-once-a-deeply-religious/) [Ian Buruma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-buruma/) > [“But what is a memorial, when you come right down to it, but a commemoration of wounds endured? Endured, and resented. Without memory, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/but-what-is-a-memorial-when-you-come-right-down-to-it-but-a/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“The Wisdom of Solomon (Carl) They censor words not the things they denote: It would create less of a stir to drop a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/the-wisdom-of-solomon-carl-they-censor-words-not-the-things-they/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Wherever man has left the stamp of mind on brute-matter; whether we designate his work as structure, texture, or mixture, mechanical or chymical; whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-thomas-newton/wherever-man-has-left-the-stamp-of-mind-on-brute-matter-whether-we/) Charles Thomas Newton > [ It would take 2,000 Vietnam Memorials to list the \[Twentieth\] century's war dead. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-would-take-2-000-vietnam-memorials-to-list-the-twentieth-century-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But monument themselves memorials need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/but-monument-themselves-memorials-need/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [I cannot stress this enough: do not take powerful hallucinogens before going to a Holocaust memorial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-rabin/i-cannot-stress-this-enough-do-not-take-powerful-hallucinogens-before/) [Nathan Rabin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-rabin/) > [Memorials become relics if they do not stir our modern conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-waxman/memorials-become-relics-if-they-do-not-stir-our-modern-conscience/) [Henry Waxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-waxman/) > [“I'm not a big fan of memorials." "Oh yeah?" "A memorial implies that the only victims are the ones in the ground. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariko-tamaki/i-m-not-a-big-fan-of-memorials-oh-yeah-a-memorial-implies-that-the/) [Mariko Tamaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariko-tamaki/) > [The war in vietnam threatened to tear our society apart, and the political and philosophical disagreements that separated each side continue, to some extent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-war-in-vietnam-threatened-to-tear-our-society-apart-and-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If you look at the history of presidential memorials, it takes a long time to get them done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-eisenhower/if-you-look-at-the-history-of-presidential-memorials-it-takes-a-long/) [Susan Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-eisenhower/) > [“We have a collection of 800 jars of soil in our museum. We collect these soils from lynching sites. People who are involved in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/we-have-a-collection-of-800-jars-of-soil-in-our-museum-we-collect/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [“If you don't recognize your own crimes, there's no impediment to continuing them. There's a pretty dramatic example of that right at this moment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-don-t-recognize-your-own-crimes-there-s-no-impediment-to/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Later still, the war memorials would sprout from the earth, dwelling not on the loss, but on what the loss had won, and what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-l-stedman/later-still-the-war-memorials-would-sprout-from-the-earth-dwelling/) [M.L. Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-l-stedman/) > [“But the memorials themselves are worthy of attention as well, not only for what they tell us about the presidents but because they leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brady-carlson/but-the-memorials-themselves-are-worthy-of-attention-as-well-not-only/) [Brady Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brady-carlson/) ## More by Adam Clarke > [Even papists could not see that a moral evil was detained in the soul through its physical connection with the body; and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/even-papists-could-not-see-that-a-moral-evil-was-detained-in-the-soul/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Verse 11. (They presented unto Him gifts). The people of the east never approach the presence of kings and great personages, without a present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/verse-11-they-presented-unto-him-gifts-the-people-of-the-east-never/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [As preachers of the gospel of Jesus, do not expect worldly honors: these Jesus Christ neither took to himself, nor gave to his disciples.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/as-preachers-of-the-gospel-of-jesus-do-not-expect-worldly-honors/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [They who pray not, know nothing of God, and know nothing of the state of their own souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/they-who-pray-not-know-nothing-of-god-and-know-nothing-of-the-state/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Many talk much, and indeed well, of what Christ has done for us: but how little is spoken of what he is to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/many-talk-much-and-indeed-well-of-what-christ-has-done-for-us-but-how/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Now an infinite happiness cannot be purchased by any price less than that which is infinite in value; and infinity of merit can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/now-an-infinite-happiness-cannot-be-purchased-by-any-price-less-than/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [If you be faithful, you will have that honor that comes from God: his Spirit will say in your hearts, Well done, good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/if-you-be-faithful-you-will-have-that-honor-that-comes-from-god-his/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [To be filled with God, is a great thing; to be filled with the fulness of God, is still greater; to be filled with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/to-be-filled-with-god-is-a-great-thing-to-be-filled-with-the-fulness/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [The Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, said an eminent scholar, have God for their Author, the Salvation of mankind for their end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/the-scriptures-of-the-old-and-new-testament-said-an-eminent-scholar/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Death to a good man is but passing through a dark entry, out of one little dusky room of his Father's house into another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/death-to-a-good-man-is-but-passing-through-a-dark-entry-out-of-one/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [If you go forward in the spirit of the original apostles and followers of Jesus Christ, trusting not in man but in the living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/if-you-go-forward-in-the-spirit-of-the-original-apostles-and/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [The words contained in it were inspired by the Holy Spirit into the minds of faithful men, called Prophets and Seers in the Old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/the-words-contained-in-it-were-inspired-by-the-holy-spirit-into-the/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [The Bible is proved to be a revelation from God, by the reasonableness and holiness of its precepts; all its commands, exhortations, and promises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/the-bible-is-proved-to-be-a-revelation-from-god-by-the-reasonableness/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Woe to that man who runs when God has not sent him; and woe to him who refuses to run, or who ceases to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/woe-to-that-man-who-runs-when-god-has-not-sent-him-and-woe-to-him-who/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) > [Multitudes of words are neither an argument of clear ideas in the writer, nor a proper means of conveying clear notions to the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/multitudes-of-words-are-neither-an-argument-of-clear-ideas-in-the/) [Adam Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) [Explore all 47 Adam Clarke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/) ## More Degrees quotes > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Life comes from death. To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I work with different actors with varied degrees of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-work-with-different-actors-with-varied-degrees-of-experience/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [We are only alive to the degree that we can let ourselves be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-are-only-alive-to-the-degree-that-we-can-let-ourselves-be-moved/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) Browse all 3,453 Degrees quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at any degree of eminence or fame, have written Memorials of themselves, at least such as have embraced their private as well as their public life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Clarke" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-who-have-arrived-at-any-degree/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Degrees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-who-have-arrived-at-any-degree/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/281/adam-clarke-14388_degrees_it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-w_1184076.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is to be regretted that few persons who have arrived at any degree of eminence or fame, have written…” — Adam Clarke", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Clarke", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-clarke/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is to be regretted that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-who-have-arrived-at-any-degree/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-clarke/it-is-to-be-regretted-that-few-persons-who-have-arrived-at-any-degree/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```