---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Legacy is a stupid thing! I don't want a…"
description: "\"Legacy is a stupid thing! I don't want a legacy.\" — Bill Gates"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/bill-gates-137_legacy_legacy-is-a-stupid-thing-i-don-t-want-a_1569388.jpg"
---

#  Legacy is a stupid thing! I don't want a legacy.

![“Legacy is a stupid thing! I don't want a legacy.” quote by Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/bill-gates-137_legacy_legacy-is-a-stupid-thing-i-don-t-want-a_1569388.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/bill-gates-137_legacy_legacy-is-a-stupid-thing-i-don-t-want-a_1569388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e08/bill-gates-137_legacy_legacy-is-a-stupid-thing-i-don-t-want-a_1569388.jpg)

> “Legacy is a stupid thing! I don't want a legacy.”

[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

## About This Quote

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

Legacy is viewed as burdensome, suggesting a focus on present impact.

**In simple terms:** Legacy can feel limiting.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize current contributions.

Themes

legacy humility impact

Mood

reflective thoughtful

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career planning
- philanthropy
- personal branding

Key Concepts

personal fulfillment societal contribution

Questions to Reflect On

- What motivates you beyond legacy?
- How can you create lasting impact now?

A Different Perspective

Legacy can inspire future generations despite personal doubts.

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## Related quotes

> [“Legacy requires sacrifice. I want to have a legacy, I want to be remembered as the hero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-l-martin/legacy-requires-sacrifice-i-want-to-have-a-legacy-i-want-to-be/)

[P.L. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-l-martin/)

> [I want my legacy to be greater freedom, greater prosperity and a better way of life for my family, our employees and all Americans.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/i-want-my-legacy-to-be-greater-freedom-greater-prosperity-and-a/)

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> [I want my legacy, when you think about me, is as a football player that does his job pretty well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-williams/i-want-my-legacy-when-you-think-about-me-is-as-a-football-player-that/)

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> [I want the legacy of Chi Chi Devayne to be a damn good performer that came from nowhere and took the world by storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chi-chi-devayne/i-want-the-legacy-of-chi-chi-devayne-to-be-a-damn-good-performer-that/)

[Chi Chi DeVayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chi-chi-devayne/)

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> [I don't think I deviated from what I'm all about and what I thought was important. Whether you want to call that a legacy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-paterno/i-don-t-think-i-deviated-from-what-i-m-all-about-and-what-i-thought/)

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> [I hope that people will say that 'she told the truth, she told her truth, she wasn't afraid to live her truth, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-hope-that-people-will-say-that-she-told-the-truth-she-told-her/)

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> [If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/if-we-had-to-vanish-tomorrow-what-would-we-want-as-our-legacy/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

> [“But dude, in 10 years, nobody’s going to care. Nobody’ll even remember my name. But they’ll remember if I impact their life. That’s why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-howes/but-dude-in-10-years-nobody-s-going-to-care-nobody-ll-even-remember/)

[Lewis Howes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-howes/)

> [I want my legacy to be, wow she was a woman that really cared about others and dedicated her life to make sure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-crenn/i-want-my-legacy-to-be-wow-she-was-a-woman-that-really-cared-about/)

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> [It's more important what you leave to people on this planet. I want my legacy to exist now, currently, not after I'm gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-burdon/it-s-more-important-what-you-leave-to-people-on-this-planet-i-want-my/)

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> [You ask yourself, 'What do you want your legacy to be?' I'm content at this point to say, 'Those who follow me.' Romeo Crennel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-parcells/you-ask-yourself-what-do-you-want-your-legacy-to-be-i-m-content-at/)

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> [I want my legacy to be that I was a man of character, I was a God fearing man and somebody who bettered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/i-want-my-legacy-to-be-that-i-was-a-man-of-character-i-was-a-god/)

[Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/)

> [I don't want to retire on the independent scene. I don't want my legacy to be remembered as that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickie-james/i-don-t-want-to-retire-on-the-independent-scene-i-don-t-want-my/)

[Mickie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickie-james/)

## More by Bill Gates

> [If you’re a person struggling to eat and stay healthy you might have heard about Michael Jordan or Muhammad Ali, but you’ll never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-a-person-struggling-to-eat-and-stay-healthy-you-might-have/)

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[Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

[Explore all 1,165 Bill Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/)

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> [“There will be no legacy for Mr. Bush. I don't believe his successor would re-enunciate the words he used in his second inaugural address…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley/there-will-be-no-legacy-for-mr-bush-i-don-t-believe-his-successor/)

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[Becca Spradlin, Lead On Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-spradlin-lead-on-mission/)

> [Nick Saban's legacy is already cemented. He's won six national championships and seven if you include the one in LSU.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ingram-ii/nick-saban-s-legacy-is-already-cemented-he-s-won-six-national/)

[Mark Ingram II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ingram-ii/)

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