--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing…" description: "\"Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.\" — Ambrose Bierce" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/ambrose-bierce-140_character_epitaph-an-inscription-on-a-tomb-showing_235179.jpg" --- # Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing that virtues… ![“Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/ambrose-bierce-140_character_epitaph-an-inscription-on-a-tomb-showing_235179.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/ambrose-bierce-140_character_epitaph-an-inscription-on-a-tomb-showing_235179.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d4/ambrose-bierce-140_character_epitaph-an-inscription-on-a-tomb-showing_235179.jpg) > “Epitaph: An inscription on a tomb showing that virtues acquired by death have a retroactive effect.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The inscription suggests that moral virtues only become recognized after death, implying a posthumous moral accounting. **In simple terms:** Virtues are judged after death. Key Takeaway Live virtuously now. Themes mortality legacy ethics Mood contemplative somber Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - personal reflection - historical analysis - memorial design Key Concepts posthumous judgment moral accounting Questions to Reflect On - How do we ensure virtues are recognized in life? - What legacy do you want to leave? A Different Perspective Virtues may be ignored until after death. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Inscription](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inscription/) [Inscriptions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inscriptions/) [Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/virtue/) ## Related quotes > [Let there be no inscription upon my tomb; let no man write my epitaph: no man can write my epitaph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-emmet/let-there-be-no-inscription-upon-my-tomb-let-no-man-write-my-epitaph/) [Robert Emmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-emmet/) > [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/) > [The inscription tomb written on the illegitimate child, my life was the evidence of my father's betrayal of the influence of youth, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-inscription-tomb-written-on-the-illegitimate-child-my-life-was-2/) Mak\_786 > [INSCRIPTION, n. Something written on another thing. Inscriptions are of many kinds, but mostly memorial, intended to commemorate the fame of some illustrious person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/inscription-n-something-written-on-another-thing-inscriptions-are-of/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Dr Johnson said, the inscription should have been in Latin, as every thing intended to be universal and permanent, should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/dr-johnson-said-the-inscription-should-have-been-in-latin-as-every/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [May your character not be a writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-your-character-not-be-a-writing-upon-the-sand-but-an-inscription/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I wanted to order a ring for myself, the inscription I should choose would be: "Nothing passes away." I believe that nothing passes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/if-i-wanted-to-order-a-ring-for-myself-the-inscription-i-should/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [What seems to us but dim funeral tapers may be heaven's distant lamps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/what-seems-to-us-but-dim-funeral-tapers-may-be-heaven-s-distant-lamps/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [In lapidary inscriptions a man is not upon oath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/in-lapidary-inscriptions-a-man-is-not-upon-oath/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Let there be no inscription upon my tomb. Let no man write my epitaph. No man can write my epitaph. I am here ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-emmet/let-there-be-no-inscription-upon-my-tomb-let-no-man-write-my-epitaph-2/) [Robert Emmet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-emmet/) > [The inscription tomb written on the illegitimate child, my life was the evidence of my father's betrayal and of the influence of youth, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-inscription-tomb-written-on-the-illegitimate-child-my-life-was/) Mak\_786 > [“Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/erised-stra-ehru-oyt-ube-cafru-oyt-on-wohsi/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“Read the inscription," he said. I opened the book. On the flyleaf it said: "To Hilda, so that on the day we part the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-gadea/read-the-inscription-he-said-i-opened-the-book-on-the-flyleaf-it-said/) Hilda Gadea > [“Once Ibrahim bin Adham saw a stone with the inscription, "Turn me over and read!" When he did an inscription appeared: "You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-hujwiri/once-ibrahim-bin-adham-saw-a-stone-with-the-inscription-turn-me-over/) Al-Hujwiri > [“Inscribed on the fingerboard of a viola da gamba by Kaspar Tieffenbrucker: "Viva fui in silvis sum dura occisa securi dum vixi tacui mortua…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/inscribed-on-the-fingerboard-of-a-viola-da-gamba-by-kaspar/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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You better know what she would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hudgins/when-you-re-on-a-daytime-drama-you-get-one-page-you-better-damn-well/) David Hudgins > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. 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