--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I shall be better satisfied if the same…" description: "\"I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me as was said of the prophet of old, \"That I walked in the fear of the Lord, and begat sons and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png" --- # I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me… ![“I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me as was said of the prophet of old, "That I walked in the fear of the Lord, and begat sons and daughters" [Genesis 5:22], than if it were inscribed on my tombstone that I governed the councils or commanded the arms of the whole continent of…” quote by Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png) > “I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me as was said of the prophet of old, "That I walked in the fear of the Lord, and begat sons and daughters" \[Genesis 5:22\], than if it were inscribed on my tombstone that I governed the councils or commanded the arms of the whole continent of America.” [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He values personal piety and family over public power and fame. **In simple terms:** Prefers humble, godly life to political glory. Key Takeaway Seek spiritual humility over worldly ambition. Themes humility faith legacy Mood reflective serious Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - personal reflection - public service - historical analysis Key Concepts theology political power family Questions to Reflect On - What does true success mean to you? - How do you balance duty and humility? A Different Perspective May neglect practical impact of leadership. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [22 Inscribed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/22-inscribed-1353881/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Continents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continents/) [Council](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/council/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Fear Of The Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-of-the-lord/) [Genesis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genesis/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Inscribed Tombstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inscribed-tombstone-1353883/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet/) [Prophet Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prophet-old-1353882/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Said Prophet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-prophet-1353880/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) [Shall Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shall-better-884798/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/) [Son and daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son-and-daughter/) [Tombstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tombstone/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) ## Related quotes > [...there occurred to me the simple epitaph which, when I am no more, I intend to have inscribed on my tombstone. It was this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-occurred-to-me-the-simple-epitaph-which-when-i-am-no-more-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You only have one life to live. How you live that life is your choice. As far as I know, no one has ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-walsh/you-only-have-one-life-to-live-how-you-live-that-life-is-your-choice/) [Peter Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-walsh/) > [“All beauty is but a shadow of the Beauty of the Most Beautiful. "Allah is Beautiful and loves beauty," said the Prophet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-beauty-is-but-a-shadow-of-the-beauty-of-the-most-beautiful-allah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Look around you, he said. There is no prophet in the earth's long chronicle who's not honored here today. Whatever form you spoke of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cormac-mccarthy/look-around-you-he-said-there-is-no-prophet-in-the-earth-s-long/) [Cormac McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cormac-mccarthy/) > [Allah said, 'A prophet must slaughter before collecting captives. A slaughtered enemy is driven from the land. Muhammad, you craved the desires of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibn-ishaq/allah-said-a-prophet-must-slaughter-before-collecting-captives-a/) [Ibn Ishaq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibn-ishaq/) > [Ezekiel says this, though, he's - God said to the prophet, he said I'm going to cause you to sit where they've sat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/ezekiel-says-this-though-he-s-god-said-to-the-prophet-he-said-i-m/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“As we see from the Scriptures, it had become a common and proverbial expression that if someone wanted to refer to a prophet, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/as-we-see-from-the-scriptures-it-had-become-a-common-and-proverbial/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“I worked in marketing,” Rachela I said. “Before I was a prophet. After, too, but we didn’t call it that after that point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scalzi/i-worked-in-marketing-rachela-i-said-before-i-was-a-prophet-after-too/) [John Scalzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scalzi/) > [I know I am at the end. I shall never get better, dear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillie-langtry/i-know-i-am-at-the-end-i-shall-never-get-better-dear/) [Lillie Langtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillie-langtry/) > [“But that we shall be better and braver and less helpless if we think that we ought to enquire, than we should have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/but-that-we-shall-be-better-and-braver-and-less-helpless-if-we-think/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [...one thing I am ready to fight for as long as I can, in word and act: that is, that we shall be better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/one-thing-i-am-ready-to-fight-for-as-long-as-i-can-in-word-and-act/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“If we heed to laws of Holy Bible, our lives shall be better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-we-heed-to-laws-of-holy-bible-our-lives-shall-be-better/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Love me as I am, sweet one, for I shall never be better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/love-me-as-i-am-sweet-one-for-i-shall-never-be-better/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [We shall be better, braver, and more active if we believe it right to look for what we don't know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/we-shall-be-better-braver-and-more-active-if-we-believe-it-right-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [When we know our own strength, we shall the better know what to undertake with hopes of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-locke/when-we-know-our-own-strength-we-shall-the-better-know-what-to/) [John Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-locke/) ## More by Benjamin Rush > [While the business of education in Europe consists in lectures upon the ruins of Palmyra and the antiquities of Herculaneum , or in disputes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/while-the-business-of-education-in-europe-consists-in-lectures-upon/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, men are incapable of knowing their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/freedom-can-exist-only-in-the-society-of-knowledge-without-learning/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [...This large and expensive stock of drugs will be unnecessary. By...doses of...medicines...multiplying...combining them properly, 20 to 30 articles, aided by the common resources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/this-large-and-expensive-stock-of-drugs-will-be-unnecessary-by-doses/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Without religion, I believe that learning does real mischief to the morals and principles of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/without-religion-i-believe-that-learning-does-real-mischief-to-the/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [ \[W\]here there is no law, there is no liberty; and nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/w-here-there-is-no-law-there-is-no-liberty-and-nothing-deserves-the/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [I have alternately been called an Aristocrat and a Democrat. I am neither. I am a Christocrat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-have-alternately-been-called-an-aristocrat-and-a-democrat-i-am/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [ The business of education has lay\[ed\] the foundations for nurseries of wise and good men, to adapt our modes of teaching to the peculiar… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-business-of-education-has-lay-ed-the-foundations-for-nurseries-of/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Let us show the world that a difference of opinion upon medical subjects is not incompatible with medical friendships; and in so doing, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/let-us-show-the-world-that-a-difference-of-opinion-upon-medical/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-gates-of-hell-shall-not-prevail-against-it/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/it-would-seem-from-this-fact-that-man-is-naturally-a-wild-animal-and/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [The only foundation for . . . a republic is to be laid in Religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/the-only-foundation-for-a-republic-is-to-be-laid-in-religion-without/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [If we were to remove the Bible from public schools we would be wasting so much time punishing crimes and taking so little pains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/if-we-were-to-remove-the-bible-from-public-schools-we-would-be/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [Let the children...be carefully instructed in the principles and obligations of the Christian religion. This is the most essential part of education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/let-the-children-be-carefully-instructed-in-the-principles-and/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [I have always considered Christianity as the strong ground of republicanism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-have-always-considered-christianity-as-the-strong-ground-of/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) > [A belief in God's universal love to all his creatures, and that he will finally restore all of them that are miserable to happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/a-belief-in-god-s-universal-love-to-all-his-creatures-and-that-he/) [Benjamin Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) [Explore all 72 Benjamin Rush quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me as was said of the prophet of old, \"That I walked in the fear of the Lord, and begat sons and daughters\" [Genesis 5:22], than if it were inscribed on my tombstone that I governed the councils or commanded the arms of the whole continent of America.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Rush" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same-can-be-said-of-me-as-was-said/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same-can-be-said-of-me-as-was-said/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/benjamin-rush-9439_america_i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same_2532184.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I shall be better satisfied if the same can be said of me as was said of the prophet of old, \"That I walked…” — Benjamin Rush", "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": "Benjamin Rush", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-rush/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I shall be better satisfied if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same-can-be-said-of-me-as-was-said/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-rush/i-shall-be-better-satisfied-if-the-same-can-be-said-of-me-as-was-said/#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 } } ] } ```