--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I die, I should be ashamed to leave…" description: "\"When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build me a monument if there were a wanting friend above ground. I would enjoy the pleasure of what ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/alexander-pope-235_alive_when-i-die-i-should-be-ashamed-to-leave_902118.png" --- # When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build… ![“When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build me a monument if there were a wanting friend above ground. I would enjoy the pleasure of what I give by giving it alive and seeing another enjoy it.” quote by Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/alexander-pope-235_alive_when-i-die-i-should-be-ashamed-to-leave_902118.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/alexander-pope-235_alive_when-i-die-i-should-be-ashamed-to-leave_902118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/alexander-pope-235_alive_when-i-die-i-should-be-ashamed-to-leave_902118.png) > “When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build me a monument if there were a wanting friend above ground. I would enjoy the pleasure of what I give by giving it alive and seeing another enjoy it.” [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on legacy, preferring living generosity over static monuments, emphasizing giving life to others. **In simple terms:** Give while alive rather than building monuments. Key Takeaway Focus on sharing life and joy. Themes legacy generosity humility Mood contemplative reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - charitable acts - artistic creation - public speaking Key Concepts selfless giving personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What lasting impact do you desire? - How can you give meaning now? A Different Perspective Monuments can still inspire future generations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Ashamed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ashamed/) [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monument/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) ## Related quotes > [So many people have really wanted to die. They seem ashamed to say so. I think it would help if they would say so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercedes-mccambridge/so-many-people-have-really-wanted-to-die-they-seem-ashamed-to-say-so/) [Mercedes McCambridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercedes-mccambridge/) > [“They should build a monument,” Cary said. “All the times I got my ass beat to a pulp so the youth of today could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-zink/they-should-build-a-monument-cary-said-all-the-times-i-got-my-ass/) [Nell Zink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-zink/) > [Take the stones people throw at you, and use them to build a monument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ratan-tata/take-the-stones-people-throw-at-you-and-use-them-to-build-a-monument/) [Ratan Tata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ratan-tata/) > [Bury my body and don't build any monument. Keep my hands out so the people know the one who won the world had nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/bury-my-body-and-don-t-build-any-monument-keep-my-hands-out-so-the/) [Alexander The Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“Sometimes our experiences helps us build the monument that forms the base for what God wants us to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bidemi-mark-mordi/sometimes-our-experiences-helps-us-build-the-monument-that-forms-the/) [Bidemi Mark-Mordi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bidemi-mark-mordi/) > [Lets build a monument for the veto. Lets build a monument for impotence and incapacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zulfikar-ali-bhutto/lets-build-a-monument-for-the-veto-lets-build-a-monument-for/) [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zulfikar-ali-bhutto/) > [Death comes to all, but great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/death-comes-to-all-but-great-achievements-build-a-monument-which/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Often the crowd does not recognize a leader until he has gone, and then they build a monument for him with the stones they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/often-the-crowd-does-not-recognize-a-leader-until-he-has-gone-and/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [The stones that critics hurl with harsh intent, a man may use to build his monument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-guiterman/the-stones-that-critics-hurl-with-harsh-intent-a-man-may-use-to-build/) [Arthur Guiterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-guiterman/) > [Honor is the most capricious in her rewards. She feeds us with air, and often pulls down our house, to build our monument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/honor-is-the-most-capricious-in-her-rewards-she-feeds-us-with-air-and/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Very well, then, where do we arrive? Where do we arrive with our respect, our homage, our filial affection? At Adam! At Adam, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/very-well-then-where-do-we-arrive-where-do-we-arrive-with-our-respect/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Only after experiencing pain can we enjoy pleasure and derive happiness from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/only-after-experiencing-pain-can-we-enjoy-pleasure-and-derive/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Don't just Hurry, don't just Haste. Don't just Worry, don't just Waste. Life is a Treasure, Enjoy the Pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/don-t-just-hurry-don-t-just-haste-don-t-just-worry-don-t-just-waste/) RVM > [The secret to life is to enjoy the pleasure of being terribly, terribly deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-secret-to-life-is-to-enjoy-the-pleasure-of-being-terribly/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I will play to create history and enjoy myself and give pleasure to the fans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-giroud/i-will-play-to-create-history-and-enjoy-myself-and-give-pleasure-to/) [Olivier Giroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-giroud/) ## More by Alexander Pope > [How do we know that we have a right to kill creatures that we are so little above, as dogs, for our curiosity or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/how-do-we-know-that-we-have-a-right-to-kill-creatures-that-we-are-so/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius, and to mend the heart; To make mankind, in conscious virtue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/to-wake-the-soul-by-tender-strokes-of-art-to-raise-the-genius-and-to/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [A mighty maze! But not without a plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/a-mighty-maze-but-not-without-a-plan/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let such teach others who themselves excel, And censure freely who have written well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/let-such-teach-others-who-themselves-excel-and-censure-freely-who/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [For I, who hold sage Homer's rule the best, Welcome the coming, speed the going guest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/for-i-who-hold-sage-homer-s-rule-the-best-welcome-the-coming-speed/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the moment you detect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/like-following-life-through-creatures-you-dissect-you-lose-it-in-the/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [When two people compliment each other with the choice of anything, each of them generally gets that which he likes least.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/when-two-people-compliment-each-other-with-the-choice-of-anything/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Such labour'd nothings, in so strange a style, Amaze th' unlearn'd and make the learned smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/such-labour-d-nothings-in-so-strange-a-style-amaze-th-unlearn-d-and/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/charms-strike-the-sight-but-merit-wins-the-soul/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [She went from opera, park, assembly, play, To morning walks, and prayers three hours a day. To part her time 'twixt reading and bohea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/she-went-from-opera-park-assembly-play-to-morning-walks-and-prayers/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [I am satisfied to trifle away my time, rather than let it stick by me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/i-am-satisfied-to-trifle-away-my-time-rather-than-let-it-stick-by-me/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [The greatest advantage I know of being thought a wit by the world is, that it gives one the greater freedom of playing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-greatest-advantage-i-know-of-being-thought-a-wit-by-the-world-is/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Then say not Man's imperfect,Heav'n in fault; Say rather, Man's as perfect ashe ought:](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/then-say-not-man-s-imperfect-heav-n-in-fault-say-rather-man-s-as/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [First follow Nature, and your judgment frame By her just standard, which is still the same: Unerring nature, still divinely bright, One clear, unchanged,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/first-follow-nature-and-your-judgment-frame-by-her-just-standard/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Who shall decide when doctors disagree, And soundest casuists doubt, like you and me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/who-shall-decide-when-doctors-disagree-and-soundest-casuists-doubt/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) [Explore all 850 Alexander Pope quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build me a monument if there were a wanting friend above ground. 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