--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men, who achieve much, die as do those…" description: "\"Men, who achieve much, die as do those who achieve nothing.\" — Clarence H. Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/clarence-h-burns-43855_achieve_men-who-achieve-much-die-as-do-those-who_1514768.png" --- # Men, who achieve much, die as do those who achieve nothing. ![“Men, who achieve much, die as do those who achieve nothing.” quote by Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/clarence-h-burns-43855_achieve_men-who-achieve-much-die-as-do-those-who_1514768.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/clarence-h-burns-43855_achieve_men-who-achieve-much-die-as-do-those-who_1514768.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab1/clarence-h-burns-43855_achieve_men-who-achieve-much-die-as-do-those-who_1514768.png) > “Men, who achieve much, die as do those who achieve nothing.” [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great achievement and insignificance share the same fate; success does not guarantee a different end. **In simple terms:** Success and death are equally inevitable. Key Takeaway Accept mortality regardless of achievement. Themes mortality achievement humility Mood reflective somber Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - career milestones - personal legacy - historical reflection Key Concepts existentialism nihilism Questions to Reflect On - Does achievement change how we view our mortality? - Can humility be cultivated through this insight? A Different Perspective Even the most accomplished lives end the same way as ordinary ones. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve/) [Achieve Die](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achieve-die-5585163/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Die Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-achieve-5585164/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Achieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-achieve-2811507/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/some-men-are-born-mediocre-some-men-achieve-mediocrity-and-some-men-2/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [When men achieve the fruits of their material success, they often become aware of an emptiness--an incompleteness--in their lives;the hollowness of having, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willard-gaylin/when-men-achieve-the-fruits-of-their-material-success-they-often/) [Willard Gaylin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willard-gaylin/) > [Men achieve a certain greatness unawares when working to another aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/men-achieve-a-certain-greatness-unawares-when-working-to-another-aim/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“I honour endurance, perseverance, industry, talent; because these are the means by which men achieve great ends and mount to lofty eminence. -St.John Rivers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-honour-endurance-perseverance-industry-talent-because-these-are-the/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [An unstated but crucial premise is that the "responsible men" achieve that exalted status by their service to authentic power, a fact of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/an-unstated-but-crucial-premise-is-that-the-responsible-men-achieve/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To know how other people behave takes intelligence, but to know myself takes wisdom. 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Burns > [At times, the most dangerous politicians have been those impelled by dreams and ideals, rather than basic realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/at-times-the-most-dangerous-politicians-have-been-those-impelled-by/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [It is painful to reflect upon your failures knowing that you alone caused them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/it-is-painful-to-reflect-upon-your-failures-knowing-that-you-alone/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [It is often easier to learn from the mistakes of others than from our own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/it-is-often-easier-to-learn-from-the-mistakes-of-others-than-from-our/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [The most powerful of men can fail when they forget that a mighty river can be crossed at its source.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/the-most-powerful-of-men-can-fail-when-they-forget-that-a-mighty/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [Does man Progress? A thousand questions answered yesterday create a thousand questions today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/does-man-progress-a-thousand-questions-answered-yesterday-create-a/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [The business man who gains success at the expense of the poor and miserable gains nil respect from his peers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/the-business-man-who-gains-success-at-the-expense-of-the-poor-and/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [Art, when destroyed can never be replaced, yet history repeats itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/art-when-destroyed-can-never-be-replaced-yet-history-repeats-itself/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) > [A man can seem to have many friends yet know little of friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-h-burns/a-man-can-seem-to-have-many-friends-yet-know-little-of-friendship/) [Clarence H. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) [Explore all 9 Clarence H. Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-h-burns/) ## More Achieve quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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The enemy's 'Center of Gravity'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-achieve-victory-we-must-mass-our-forces-at-the-hub-of-all-power/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your only goal is to become rich, you will never achieve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-rockefeller/if-your-only-goal-is-to-become-rich-you-will-never-achieve-it/) [John D. 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