--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Memory is what you did. Life is what…" description: "\"Memory is what you did. Life is what you're doing.\" — Deacon Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/deacon-jones-18845_best-football_memory-is-what-you-did-life-is-what-you_3161172.png" --- # Memory is what you did. Life is what you're doing. ![“Memory is what you did. Life is what you're doing.” quote by Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/deacon-jones-18845_best-football_memory-is-what-you-did-life-is-what-you_3161172.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/deacon-jones-18845_best-football_memory-is-what-you-did-life-is-what-you_3161172.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/deacon-jones-18845_best-football_memory-is-what-you-did-life-is-what-you_3161172.png) > “Memory is what you did. Life is what you're doing.” [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action defines life; memory is the record of past actions. **In simple terms:** What you do now shapes your life; memory records past deeds. Key Takeaway Focus on current actions to build a meaningful life. Themes action memory life legacy presence Mood motivational pragmatic Type inspirational self‑help When to use this quote - career - personal relationships - health habits - creative projects Key Concepts intentionality temporal awareness self‑construction Questions to Reflect On - What present actions will you remember? - How does focusing on now change your goals? A Different Perspective Memory can be selective; past actions may not fully define you. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) [Did Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did-life-613557/) [Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-doing-292630/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Memory Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory-did-284934/) [Nfl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nfl/) ## Related quotes > [The problem a guy who lies all the time faces is he never can tell when anybody else is telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/the-problem-a-guy-who-lies-all-the-time-faces-is-he-never-can-tell/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I believe that if you die trying to be your best, the world is still a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-believe-that-if-you-die-trying-to-be-your-best-the-world-is-still-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [There are all kinds of smiles. On the football field I mostly used the one where the hawk spots the dove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/there-are-all-kinds-of-smiles-on-the-football-field-i-mostly-used-the/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I did come up with the term "sack" to describe the devastation I was bringing on the poor, cringing quarterbacks in the NFL. "Sack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-did-come-up-with-the-term-sack-to-describe-the-devastation-i-was/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Be patient with the negative people of the world. Take a moment to think how they are helping you clarify your own thinking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/be-patient-with-the-negative-people-of-the-world-take-a-moment-to/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [What we leave behind in this life is the memory of who we were and what we did. An imprint, no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mosse/what-we-leave-behind-in-this-life-is-the-memory-of-who-we-were-and/) [Kate Mosse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mosse/) > [I hadn't performed or been in the public eye for about 16 years. When my husband passed away, I was obliged to go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-hadn-t-performed-or-been-in-the-public-eye-for-about-16-years-when/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I’ve committed every part of you to memory, did you know that? You’re so fucking beautiful that sometimes I can’t see straight. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-hawkes/i-ve-committed-every-part-of-you-to-memory-did-you-know-that-you-re/) [Cora Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-hawkes/) > [“Afterwards Isabelle often wondered if the moments themselves were greater or the memory of them. At least the memory did not pass, while the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-bentley/afterwards-isabelle-often-wondered-if-the-moments-themselves-were/) [Toni Bentley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-bentley/) > [“When I wiped you from the book of memory, I did not know I was striking out half my life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nizar-qabbani/when-i-wiped-you-from-the-book-of-memory-i-did-not-know-i-was/) [Nizar Qabbani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nizar-qabbani/) > [I suspect the base that I'm working from is not particularly one of inquiry, but of memory of what I did last time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mckellen/i-suspect-the-base-that-i-m-working-from-is-not-particularly-one-of/) [Ian Mckellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mckellen/) > [Give me a 6 pack, half-hour of rest and lets go play them again - We can beat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lambert/give-me-a-6-pack-half-hour-of-rest-and-lets-go-play-them-again-we-can/) [Jack Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lambert/) > [I want to keep winning-the hell with the record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-want-to-keep-winning-the-hell-with-the-record/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [We didn't win a Super Bowl together, and that's something I'll always regret - not knowing what that feels like. But you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-didn-t-win-a-super-bowl-together-and-that-s-something-i-ll-always/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) ## More by Deacon Jones > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I believe that if you die trying to be your best, the world is still a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-believe-that-if-you-die-trying-to-be-your-best-the-world-is-still-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [The problem a guy who lies all the time faces is he never can tell when anybody else is telling the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/the-problem-a-guy-who-lies-all-the-time-faces-is-he-never-can-tell/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Be patient with the negative people of the world. Take a moment to think how they are helping you clarify your own thinking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/be-patient-with-the-negative-people-of-the-world-take-a-moment-to/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I did come up with the term "sack" to describe the devastation I was bringing on the poor, cringing quarterbacks in the NFL. "Sack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-did-come-up-with-the-term-sack-to-describe-the-devastation-i-was/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [There are all kinds of smiles. On the football field I mostly used the one where the hawk spots the dove.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/there-are-all-kinds-of-smiles-on-the-football-field-i-mostly-used-the/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [And so now you think society is to blame for the mess you made of yourself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/and-so-now-you-think-society-is-to-blame-for-the-mess-you-made-of/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I reserve the right to change my mind. But once I decide on something, I'm going to need a good reason to switch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-reserve-the-right-to-change-my-mind-but-once-i-decide-on-something/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [When I was a teenager, I was so dumb my mamma knocked me off the porch with a broom. You wish you had so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-was-so-dumb-my-mamma-knocked-me-off-the-porch/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [The only rules not meant to be broken are those of love and virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/the-only-rules-not-meant-to-be-broken-are-those-of-love-and-virtue/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I never was very big on praying for victory. For God to give a big win to the Denver Broncos, wouldn't He have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-never-was-very-big-on-praying-for-victory-for-god-to-give-a-big-win/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Somebody told me when Abe Lincoln was a young man, studying by firelight, he said, "I will work hard. I will prepare myself. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/somebody-told-me-when-abe-lincoln-was-a-young-man-studying-by/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I developed a term that is used in the game right now called sacking a quarterback. Sacking a quarterback is just like you devastate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-developed-a-term-that-is-used-in-the-game-right-now-called-sacking/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [It took me a long time to figure out that real big-time success comes from taking lots of small, ordinary steps in the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/it-took-me-a-long-time-to-figure-out-that-real-big-time-success-comes/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Know the difference between famous and great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/know-the-difference-between-famous-and-great/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) [Explore all 33 Deacon Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) ## More Best football quotes > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [If you feel like you want to die, it's time to sit down and make a list of all the things you haven't done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/if-you-feel-like-you-want-to-die-it-s-time-to-sit-down-and-make-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [I guess Madden had seen everything with out group, and everybody else had seen everything. (After coming to practice field riding a horse and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-hendricks/i-guess-madden-had-seen-everything-with-out-group-and-everybody-else/) [Ted Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-hendricks/) > [The goal is to hit your stride, stay in the hunt and be playing your best football in December.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cowher/the-goal-is-to-hit-your-stride-stay-in-the-hunt-and-be-playing-your/) [Bill Cowher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cowher/) > [We didn't win a Super Bowl together, and that's something I'll always regret - not knowing what that feels like. But you and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-marino/we-didn-t-win-a-super-bowl-together-and-that-s-something-i-ll-always/) [Dan Marino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-marino/) > [You've got to go out there and play your best. It's about what you do on the football field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-hillis/you-ve-got-to-go-out-there-and-play-your-best-it-s-about-what-you-do/) [Peyton Hillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-hillis/) > [I play my best football when I'm calm mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-play-my-best-football-when-i-m-calm-mentally/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [George Best was one of the most talented players of all time and probably the best footballer who never made it to a major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-beckenbauer/george-best-was-one-of-the-most-talented-players-of-all-time-and/) [Franz Beckenbauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-beckenbauer/) > [I'm happy to be in the centre for Wales - that's my favourite position and where I play my best football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-ramsey/i-m-happy-to-be-in-the-centre-for-wales-that-s-my-favourite-position/) [Aaron Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-ramsey/) > [English football is different: always on the attack. Although one thing is clear. The best football is the Italian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-batistuta/english-football-is-different-always-on-the-attack-although-one-thing/) [Gabriel Batistuta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-batistuta/) > [I want to keep winning-the hell with the record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-moss/i-want-to-keep-winning-the-hell-with-the-record/) [Randy Moss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-moss/) > [Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-football-is-very-simple-but-playing-simple-football-is-the/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [I can say I am playing some of the best football of my career at 31. So maybe I can play better as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-can-say-i-am-playing-some-of-the-best-football-of-my-career-at-31/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) > [I believe that if you die trying to be your best, the world is still a better place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deacon-jones/i-believe-that-if-you-die-trying-to-be-your-best-the-world-is-still-a/) [Deacon Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deacon-jones/) > [Messi is the best player in the world. If he's not already, he'll be the best footballer of all time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lebron-james/messi-is-the-best-player-in-the-world-if-he-s-not-already-he-ll-be/) [LeBron James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lebron-james/) [Browse all 252 Best football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Memory is what you did. 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