---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know what I'm going to have on my…"
description: "\"You know what I'm going to have on my gravestone? 'She did it the hard way.'\" — Bette Davis"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/bette-davis-2218_gravestone_you-know-what-i-m-going-to-have-on-my-gr_1563560.jpg"
---

#  You know what I'm going to have on my gravestone? 'She did…

![“You know what I'm going to have on my gravestone? 'She did it the hard way.'” quote by Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/bette-davis-2218_gravestone_you-know-what-i-m-going-to-have-on-my-gr_1563560.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/bette-davis-2218_gravestone_you-know-what-i-m-going-to-have-on-my-gr_1563560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdc/bette-davis-2218_gravestone_you-know-what-i-m-going-to-have-on-my-gr_1563560.jpg)

> “You know what I'm going to have on my gravestone? 'She did it the hard way.'”

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The epitaph reflects a defiant self‑image, embracing hardship as a badge of achievement.

**In simple terms:** She wants to be remembered for taking the hard path.

Key Takeaway

Own your challenges as part of your legacy.

Themes

legacy defiance hardship identity celebration

Mood

reflective determined inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- memorial design
- personal branding
- motivational speaking

Key Concepts

self‑perception resilience personal myth celebratory narrative

Questions to Reflect On

- What hard choices define you?
- How do you want others to remember you?

A Different Perspective

Focusing on hardship may overlook other virtues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gravestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gravestone/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

## Related quotes

> [She did it the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/she-did-it-the-hard-way/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [I'm going to put on my gravestone, 'He never owned a cell phone.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-ventura/i-m-going-to-put-on-my-gravestone-he-never-owned-a-cell-phone/)

[Jesse Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-ventura/)

> [I'm going to put that on my gravestone. "He created such a category of unwanted pop culture - Famous for directing unwanted cultural references".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/i-m-going-to-put-that-on-my-gravestone-he-created-such-a-category-of/)

[Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/)

> [When I was younger, me and my dad worked really hard. We did it the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-kim/when-i-was-younger-me-and-my-dad-worked-really-hard-we-did-it-the/)

[Chloe Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-kim/)

> [I did it the hard way, I fought everyone I could and I would not have it any other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-froch/i-did-it-the-hard-way-i-fought-everyone-i-could-and-i-would-not-have/)

[Carl Froch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-froch/)

> [My dad said I did the right thing. I hope I did, but it's hard to tell sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/my-dad-said-i-did-the-right-thing-i-hope-i-did-but-it-s-hard-to-tell/)

[Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/)

> [It did seem hard to be doing something heroic while everyone was too busy to notice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hardinge/it-did-seem-hard-to-be-doing-something-heroic-while-everyone-was-too/)

[Frances Hardinge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hardinge/)

> [I've always been my own person. Everything I've ever done in my life I did the hard way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bray-wyatt/i-ve-always-been-my-own-person-everything-i-ve-ever-done-in-my-life-i/)

[Bray Wyatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bray-wyatt/)

> [Yes, I can play. I can play. I can't play as long as I did and as hard, but I don't think I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-hubbard/yes-i-can-play-i-can-play-i-can-t-play-as-long-as-i-did-and-as-hard/)

[Freddie Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-hubbard/)

> [Do it the hard way! Think ahead of your job. Then nothing in the world can keep the job ahead from reaching out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlow-curtice/do-it-the-hard-way-think-ahead-of-your-job-then-nothing-in-the-world/)

Harlow Curtice

> [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/)

[Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/)

> [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/)

[Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/)

> [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/)

[Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/)

> [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

## More by Bette Davis

> [In this business, until you're known as a monster you're not a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/in-this-business-until-you-re-known-as-a-monster-you-re-not-a-star/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [You will never be happier than you expect. To change your happiness, change your expectation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/you-will-never-be-happier-than-you-expect-to-change-your-happiness/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [The male ego with few exceptions is elephantine to start with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-male-ego-with-few-exceptions-is-elephantine-to-start-with/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [“Oh Jerry, don't let's ask for the moon. We have the stars. - Now, Voyager”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/oh-jerry-don-t-let-s-ask-for-the-moon-we-have-the-stars-now-voyager/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [Almost as many inhumanities are committed in the name of love as in the name of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/almost-as-many-inhumanities-are-committed-in-the-name-of-love-as-in/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [I have eyes like a bullfrog, a neck like an ostrich and long, limp hair. You just have to be good to survive with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-have-eyes-like-a-bullfrog-a-neck-like-an-ostrich-and-long-limp-hair/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [Dramatic art in her opinion is knowing how to fill a sweater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/dramatic-art-in-her-opinion-is-knowing-how-to-fill-a-sweater/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [I do not regret one professional enemy I have made. Any actor who doesn't dare to make an enemy should get out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-do-not-regret-one-professional-enemy-i-have-made-any-actor-who/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [I never did pal around with actresses. Their talk usually bored me to tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-never-did-pal-around-with-actresses-their-talk-usually-bored-me-to/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [The secret of marriage is: separate bedrooms and separate bathrooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/the-secret-of-marriage-is-separate-bedrooms-and-separate-bathrooms/)

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> [If Hollywood didn't work out, I was prepared to be the best secretary in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/if-hollywood-didn-t-work-out-i-was-prepared-to-be-the-best-secretary/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [Everybody has a heart. Except some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/everybody-has-a-heart-except-some-people/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

> [I've been lucky. I'll be lucky again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-davis/i-ve-been-lucky-i-ll-be-lucky-again/)

[Bette Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

[Explore all 176 Bette Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-davis/)

## More Gravestone quotes

> [I don't want to have a gravestone. I want to have all my friends burn me and then snort the ashes. I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-don-t-want-to-have-a-gravestone-i-want-to-have-all-my-friends-burn/)

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> [“I've never written a quote I feel would be suitable for my gravestone. Wouldn't it be ironic if it were this one? Oh, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/i-ve-never-written-a-quote-i-feel-would-be-suitable-for-my-gravestone/)

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> [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [ \[On being indecisive and changeable:\] On my gravestone I want inscribed: 'On the other hand, maybe I should have lived. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/on-being-indecisive-and-changeable-on-my-gravestone-i-want-inscribed/)

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> [Epitaphs for a gravestone: 'Please: no hooliganism'; or 'Es prohibe se hace agua aqui'; or 'No comment'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/epitaphs-for-a-gravestone-please-no-hooliganism-or-es-prohibe-se-hace/)

[Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/)

> [One of the gravestones in the cemetery near the earliest church has an anchor on it and an hourglass, and the words In Hope.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/one-of-the-gravestones-in-the-cemetery-near-the-earliest-church-has/)

[Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/)

> [Steven Tyler isn't in Aerosmith anymore, but his gravestone will probably say something about Aerosmith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-stump/steven-tyler-isn-t-in-aerosmith-anymore-but-his-gravestone-will/)

[Patrick Stump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-stump/)

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> [An angel visited the green earth, and took a flower away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/an-angel-visited-the-green-earth-and-took-a-flower-away/)

[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/)

> [On my gravestone, I want it to say, "I told you I was sick."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/on-my-gravestone-i-want-it-to-say-i-told-you-i-was-sick/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

> [The words It's not my fault! should never again come from your mouth. The words It's not my fault! have been symbolically written on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/the-words-it-s-not-my-fault-should-never-again-come-from-your-mouth/)

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> [One puts off the biography like you put off death. To write an autobiography is to etch the words on your own gravestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-fuentes/one-puts-off-the-biography-like-you-put-off-death-to-write-an/)

[Carlos Fuentes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-fuentes/)

> [“It is upon such stones that men attempt to permanently etch history so they will not exist in a vacuum; it is the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-bignell/it-is-upon-such-stones-that-men-attempt-to-permanently-etch-history/)

[Rob Bignell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-bignell/)

> [“I think they’ll probably put that on my gravestone. ‘He Was Heterosexual and Had Low Expectations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-they-ll-probably-put-that-on-my-gravestone-he-was/)

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