--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fame is but an inscription on a grave…" description: "\"Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the melancholy blazon on a coffin lid.\" — Alexander Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png" --- # Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the… ![“Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the melancholy blazon on a coffin lid.” quote by Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png) > “Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the melancholy blazon on a coffin lid.” [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fame and glory are fleeting, ending with death, and are ultimately meaningless compared to lasting legacy. **In simple terms:** Fame and glory are temporary. Key Takeaway Seek lasting impact over fame. Themes mortality legacy humility Mood thoughtful philosophical Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - career - public life - personal goals Key Concepts ephemerality meaning Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters beyond death? - How can you build a lasting legacy? A Different Perspective Fame can still motivate positive change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffins/) [Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Inscriptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inscriptions/) [Melancholy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melancholy/) [Reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reputation/) [Sad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sad/) ## Related quotes > [“Coffin,why no lid? Too antiseptic for Hell, and could the roof of heaven really be made of gray metal?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-davidson/coffin-why-no-lid-too-antiseptic-for-hell-and-could-the-roof-of/) [Andrew Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-davidson/) > [The consumer's side of the coffin lid is never ostentatious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/the-consumer-s-side-of-the-coffin-lid-is-never-ostentatious/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [If you don't have humour, then you may as well nail the coffin lid down now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/if-you-don-t-have-humour-then-you-may-as-well-nail-the-coffin-lid/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [“I went to visit my dad. He didn’t say a word to me. Or if he did, I couldn’t hear it through the grass,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-went-to-visit-my-dad-he-didn-t-say-a-word-to-me-or-if-he-did-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I got the sexton, who was digging Linton’s grave, to remove the earth off her coffin lid, and I opened it. I thought, once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/i-got-the-sexton-who-was-digging-linton-s-grave-to-remove-the-earth/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-coren/in-the-days-when-the-keepers-of-the-house-shall-tremble-and-the/) [Alan Coren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-coren/) > [“To The Undertaker or Friends Who Open This Coffin: After laying back the lid of the coffin, remove entirely the pads from the sides…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edison-mcdaniels/to-the-undertaker-or-friends-who-open-this-coffin-after-laying-back/) [Edison McDaniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edison-mcdaniels/) > [The theoretical recognition of the split-space of enunciation may open the way to conceptualising an international culture, based not on the exoticism of multiculturalism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homi-k-bhabha/the-theoretical-recognition-of-the-split-space-of-enunciation-may/) Homi K. Bhabha > [End of Construction. Thank you 'for your patience. " Inscription on Ruth Bell Graham's grave -- inspired hy a road sign she saw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/end-of-construction-thank-you-for-your-patience-inscription-on-ruth/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/epitaph-an-inscription-on-a-tomb-showing-that-virtues-acquired-by/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [In general, the philological movement opened up countless sources relevant to linguistic issues, treating them in quite a different spirit from traditional grammar; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-de-saussure/in-general-the-philological-movement-opened-up-countless-sources/) [Ferdinand de Saussure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-de-saussure/) > [“It is as if I were made of stone, as if I were my own tombstone, there is no loophole for doubt or for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/it-is-as-if-i-were-made-of-stone-as-if-i-were-my-own-tombstone-there/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [As the Swiss inscription says: Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden,- "Speech is silvern, Silence is golden;" or, as I might rather express it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-swiss-inscription-says-sprechen-ist-silbern-schweigen-ist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [When we see the many grave-stones which have fallen in, which have been defaced by the footsteps of the congregation, which lie buried under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/when-we-see-the-many-grave-stones-which-have-fallen-in-which-have/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Alexander Smith > [Pleasure has no logic; it never treads in its own footsteps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/pleasure-has-no-logic-it-never-treads-in-its-own-footsteps/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The great man is the man who does a thing for the first time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-great-man-is-the-man-who-does-a-thing-for-the-first-time/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Eternity doth wear upon her face the veil of time. They only see the veil, and thus they know not what they stand so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/eternity-doth-wear-upon-her-face-the-veil-of-time-they-only-see-the/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [There is a certain even-handed justice in Time; and for what he takes away he gives us something in return. He robs us of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/there-is-a-certain-even-handed-justice-in-time-and-for-what-he-takes/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Thoughts must come naturally, like wild-flowers; they cannot be forced in a hot-bed, even although aided by the leaf-mould of your past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/thoughts-must-come-naturally-like-wild-flowers-they-cannot-be-forced/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-the-entire-circle-of-the-year-there-are-no-days-so-delightful-as/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The globe has been circumnavigated, but no man ever yet has; you may survey a kingdom and note the result in maps, but all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-globe-has-been-circumnavigated-but-no-man-ever-yet-has-you-may/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In winter, when the dismal rain Comes down in slanting lines, And Wind, that grand old harper, smote His thunder-harp of pines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-winter-when-the-dismal-rain-comes-down-in-slanting-lines-and-wind/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [And in any case, to the old man, when the world becomes trite, the triteness arises not so much from a cessation as from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/and-in-any-case-to-the-old-man-when-the-world-becomes-trite-the/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Most brilliant star upon the crest of Time Is England. England!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/most-brilliant-star-upon-the-crest-of-time-is-england-england/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [In my garden, care stops at the gate and gazes at me wistfully through the bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/in-my-garden-care-stops-at-the-gate-and-gazes-at-me-wistfully-through/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [The spot of ground on which a man has stood is forever interesting to him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/the-spot-of-ground-on-which-a-man-has-stood-is-forever-interesting-to/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [To sit for one's portrait is like being present at one's own creation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/to-sit-for-one-s-portrait-is-like-being-present-at-one-s-own-creation/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [There is nothing good in this world which time does not improve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/there-is-nothing-good-in-this-world-which-time-does-not-improve/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) > [Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/love-is-but-the-discovery-of-ourselves-in-others-and-the-delight-in/) [Alexander Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) [Explore all 111 Alexander Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/) ## More Coffin quotes > [“I decided to get my butt up out of the coffin, just like Jesus Christ, and come and chitchat with all my beautiful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-o-neill/i-decided-to-get-my-butt-up-out-of-the-coffin-just-like-jesus-christ/) [Heather O'Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-o-neill/) > [Marriage is like a coffin and each kid is like another nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer-simpson/marriage-is-like-a-coffin-and-each-kid-is-like-another-nail/) [Homer Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer-simpson/) > [“Like King, we need to put on our cemetery clothes and be coffin-ready for the next great democratic battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/like-king-we-need-to-put-on-our-cemetery-clothes-and-be-coffin-ready/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Lies made it arduous to find a coffin that fit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carl-evans/lies-made-it-arduous-to-find-a-coffin-that-fit/) Richard Carl Evans > [His smile is like the silver plate on a coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-philpot-curran/his-smile-is-like-the-silver-plate-on-a-coffin/) [John Philpot Curran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-philpot-curran/) > [At my funeral, if one said, 'Nick was a generous person,' trust me I won't be doing cartwheels in my coffin. Recognition from people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/at-my-funeral-if-one-said-nick-was-a-generous-person-trust-me-i-won-t/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [Well, I guess I am about the livest dead man you ever saw; although I was once asked to accept a coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rice/well-i-guess-i-am-about-the-livest-dead-man-you-ever-saw-although-i/) Dan Rice > [She wanted to be buried in a coffin filled with used paperbacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/she-wanted-to-be-buried-in-a-coffin-filled-with-used-paperbacks/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [“Death is only attractive in a fashionable dress, with lilies and an open coffin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-l-sullivan/death-is-only-attractive-in-a-fashionable-dress-with-lilies-and-an/) [Laura L. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-l-sullivan/) > [“An expensive coffin does not decrease the deceased’s chances of going to hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/an-expensive-coffin-does-not-decrease-the-deceased-s-chances-of-going/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I never change, I'm like a corpse in a coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole/i-never-change-i-m-like-a-corpse-in-a-coffin/) [J Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole/) > [“This is the most uncomfortable coffin I've ever been in. You are wasting my time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi-ed-wood/this-is-the-most-uncomfortable-coffin-i-ve-ever-been-in-you-are/) Bela Lugosi (Ed Wood > [“It's daylight. Shouldn't you have burned to a crisp, or something? Don't you have to crawl into a coffin? Where do you keep it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/it-s-daylight-shouldn-t-you-have-burned-to-a-crisp-or-something-don-t/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [For me, curiosity is life. If you are not curious, you are in your coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-boulez/for-me-curiosity-is-life-if-you-are-not-curious-you-are-in-your-coffin/) [Pierre Boulez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-boulez/) > [“A premature death does not only rob one of the countless instances where one would have experienced pleasure, it also saves one from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-premature-death-does-not-only-rob-one-of-the-countless-instances/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) Browse all 215 Coffin quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the melancholy blazon on a coffin lid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-and-glory-the-melancholy-blazon/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coffin" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-and-glory-the-melancholy-blazon/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/102/alexander-smith-4402_coffin_fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-an_1106461.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Fame is but an inscription on a grave, and glory the melancholy blazon on a coffin lid.” — Alexander Smith", "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": "Alexander Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Fame is but an inscription on...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-and-glory-the-melancholy-blazon/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-smith/fame-is-but-an-inscription-on-a-grave-and-glory-the-melancholy-blazon/#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 } } ] } ```