---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People don't always go down in history…"
description: "\"“People don't always go down in history for the vigor with which they perform their jobs. We remember Louis the Fifteenth . . . for his furniture; we r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg"
---

#  People don't always go down in history for the vigor with…

![“People don't always go down in history for the vigor with which they perform their jobs. We remember Louis the Fifteenth . . . for his furniture; we remember Pierre Léotard, despite his being the greatest trapeze artist ever, for his leotard. The idea is to give your name to something, like the…” quote by David Toscana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg)

> ““People don't always go down in history for the vigor with which they perform their jobs. We remember Louis the Fifteenth . . . for his furniture; we remember Pierre Léotard, despite his being the greatest trapeze artist ever, for his leotard. The idea is to give your name to something, like the zeppelin, the newton, Morse code, the chicuelina .””

[David Toscana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toscana/)

## About This Quote

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

Historical fame often stems from singular achievements, not consistent excellence; eponymous naming cements legacy.

**In simple terms:** Names endure through iconic inventions or deeds.

Key Takeaway

Create lasting impact through memorable work.

Themes

legacy history recognition eponymous naming achievement

Mood

reflective inspirational thoughtful

Type

Fame:1 History:1 Morse code:0 Trapeze Artist:1 Remember Louis:0 Remember Pierre:0 Pierre Léotard:0 Greatest Trapeze:0

When to use this quote

- product naming
- scientific discovery
- artistic signature
- public monuments
- personal branding

Key Concepts

innovation cultural memory branding

Questions to Reflect On

- What legacy do you wish to leave?
- How can you ensure your work is remembered?

A Different Perspective

Fame can be accidental rather than earned.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/) [Greatest Trapeze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-trapeze-3815331/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Morse code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morse-code/) [Pierre Léotard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pierre-l-otard-3815330/) [Remember Louis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-louis-3815328/) [Remember Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-pierre-3815329/) [Trapeze Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trapeze-artist-2924667/)

## Related quotes

> [When I did finally get to the circus as an adult, I was very impressed by the trapeze artist. But, being 6 feet 3…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-de-lancie/when-i-did-finally-get-to-the-circus-as-an-adult-i-was-very-impressed/)

[John de Lancie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-de-lancie/)

> [I never got to see the circus... I was always in love with being a trapeze artist, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keala-settle/i-never-got-to-see-the-circus-i-was-always-in-love-with-being-a/)

[Keala Settle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keala-settle/)

> [My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist in pre-war Paris Smuggling bombs for the underground. And she met my father at a fete in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/my-mother-was-a-chinese-trapeze-artist-in-pre-war-paris-smuggling/)

[Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/)

> [In school I was never the class clown, but more the class trapeze artist. I was always being suspended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-guntorius/in-school-i-was-never-the-class-clown-but-more-the-class-trapeze/)

[Tom Guntorius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-guntorius/)

> [The ethics laws do not let us tap out the truth in Morse code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-wyden/the-ethics-laws-do-not-let-us-tap-out-the-truth-in-morse-code/)

[Ron Wyden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-wyden/)

> [I was walking down the street the other day and these construction workers were working on the roof hammering away. One of them told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emo-philips/i-was-walking-down-the-street-the-other-day-and-these-construction/)

[Emo Philips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emo-philips/)

> [It is merely an accident of history that it is considered normal in our society to believe that the Creator of the universe can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/it-is-merely-an-accident-of-history-that-it-is-considered-normal-in/)

[Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/)

> [Who taught you to write in blood on my back? Who taught you to use your hands as branding irons? You have scored your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/who-taught-you-to-write-in-blood-on-my-back-who-taught-you-to-use/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [I studied Morse code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-studied-morse-code/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

> [“If you could be anyone else, who would you want to be?” I ask, because I’ve decided that I admire how David doesn’t self-censor.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-buxbaum/if-you-could-be-anyone-else-who-would-you-want-to-be-i-ask-because-i/)

[Julie Buxbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-buxbaum/)

> [“No calls, no emails, no Facebook messages, no letters, no Morse code with a flashlight during the dark hours of the night, no smoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salla-simukka/no-calls-no-emails-no-facebook-messages-no-letters-no-morse-code-with/)

[Salla Simukka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salla-simukka/)

> [I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-walking-home-one-night-and-a-guy-hammering-on-a-roof-called-me/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice the ring that’s landed on your finger, a massive insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/reminiscing-in-the-drizzle-of-portland-i-notice-the-ring-that-s/)

[Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/)

> [“Words are useful, sir. That's from the communicating point of view. They come into their own then. When you think about it, even Morse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-james/words-are-useful-sir-that-s-from-the-communicating-point-of-view-they/)

[Bill James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-james/)

> [your morse code interferes with my heart beat. I had a steady heart before you, I replied upon it, it had seen active service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/your-morse-code-interferes-with-my-heart-beat-i-had-a-steady-heart/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

## More by David Toscana

> [“True or not, it's important to have stories ― they are what give us the right to walk the earth and have a name.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toscana/true-or-not-it-s-important-to-have-stories-they-are-what-give-us-the/)

[David Toscana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toscana/)

[Explore all 2 David Toscana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toscana/)

## More Fame quotes

> [Most celebrated men live in a condition of prostitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/most-celebrated-men-live-in-a-condition-of-prostitution/)

[Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/)

> [I don't want to be famous famous. I'm happy on the second tier, where I have autonomy on a professional level but I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-reece/i-don-t-want-to-be-famous-famous-i-m-happy-on-the-second-tier-where-i/)

[Gabrielle Reece](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-reece/)

> [Some people say that 'Drag Race' is about glory and immortalizing yourself in the Hall of Fame. For me, it's about shaking RuPaul down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trixie-mattel/some-people-say-that-drag-race-is-about-glory-and-immortalizing/)

[Trixie Mattel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trixie-mattel/)

> [The News of the World made me more famous than being in Atomic Kitten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/the-news-of-the-world-made-me-more-famous-than-being-in-atomic-kitten/)

[Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/)

> [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/)

[Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [There's nothing like getting feedback that's positive and supportive. That's what I'm all about. I'm really just genuinely doing good music. I'm not looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/there-s-nothing-like-getting-feedback-that-s-positive-and-supportive/)

[Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/)

> [Don't crave fame, do what you do and just apply. I don't think many of them here today are that interested in fashion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-wilson/don-t-crave-fame-do-what-you-do-and-just-apply-i-don-t-think-many-of/)

[Louise Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-wilson/)

> [If I had never gotten famous or rich, I think I'd be equally neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/if-i-had-never-gotten-famous-or-rich-i-think-i-d-be-equally-neurotic/)

[Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/)

> [Unfortunately, celebrity is a powerful thing. It can influence people, but if it can influence people in a good way, then that's a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-furnish/unfortunately-celebrity-is-a-powerful-thing-it-can-influence-people/)

[David Furnish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-furnish/)

> [I think you either live a real life or you live a weird celebrity pseudolife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/i-think-you-either-live-a-real-life-or-you-live-a-weird-celebrity/)

[Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/)

> [I am uninterested in Jennifer Aniston's take on anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dillon/i-am-uninterested-in-jennifer-aniston-s-take-on-anything/)

[Tim Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dillon/)

> [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/)

[Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/)

> [I don't want to have anything to do with that: just the fame without personal respect for your privacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/i-don-t-want-to-have-anything-to-do-with-that-just-the-fame-without/)

[Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/)

> [I wanted to have money; I wanted to be special; I wanted people to like me; I wanted to be famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-wanted-to-have-money-i-wanted-to-be-special-i-wanted-people-to-like/)

[Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/)

[Browse all 6,971 Fame quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fame/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“People don't always go down in history for the vigor with which they perform their jobs. We remember Louis the Fifteenth . . . for his furniture; we remember Pierre Léotard, despite his being the greatest trapeze artist ever, for his leotard. The idea is to give your name to something, like the zeppelin, the newton, Morse code, the chicuelina .”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Toscana"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toscana/people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-for-the-vigor-with-which-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fame"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toscana/people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-for-the-vigor-with-which-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/david-toscana-50595_fame_people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-f_433485.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People don't always go down in history for the vigor with which they perform their jobs. We remember Louis…” — David Toscana",
                "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": "David Toscana",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-toscana/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“People don't always go down in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toscana/people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-for-the-vigor-with-which-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-toscana/people-don-t-always-go-down-in-history-for-the-vigor-with-which-they/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
