--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a man can bridge the gap between life…" description: "\"“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/james-dean-9253_great-man_if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life_369068.jpg" --- # If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he… ![“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success.” quote by James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/james-dean-9253_great-man_if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life_369068.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/james-dean-9253_great-man_if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life_369068.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/james-dean-9253_great-man_if-a-man-can-bridge-the-gap-between-life_369068.jpg) > ““If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. Immortality is the only true success.”” [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Immortality, achieved by living beyond death, is the ultimate measure of greatness. **In simple terms:** Living on after death defines true success. Key Takeaway Seek lasting impact beyond life. Themes legacy mortality greatness Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal legacy - influence - cultural memory - philosophical contemplation Key Concepts existentialism heroic ideal Questions to Reflect On - What defines true success? - Can one achieve immortality through actions? A Different Perspective Immortality may be unattainable or metaphorical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life and death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-and-death/) [True success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-success/) ## Related quotes > [The only greatness for man is immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/the-only-greatness-for-man-is-immortality/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Tell your story. That's the secret of immortality. The one true way to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-meltzer/tell-your-story-that-s-the-secret-of-immortality-the-one-true-way-to/) [Brad Meltzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-meltzer/) > [Forgiveness is healing—everything is energy—thoughts create—we are all connected—what you resist persists—true love never dies—the soul’s immortality is the only true immortality—](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/forgiveness-is-healing-everything-is-energy-thoughts-create-we-are/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [A man's immortality can be found in his children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/a-man-s-immortality-can-be-found-in-his-children/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Creation is man's immortality and brings him nearest to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/creation-is-man-s-immortality-and-brings-him-nearest-to-the-gods/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If God bestowed immortality on every man then when he made him, and he made many to whom he never purposed to give his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/if-god-bestowed-immortality-on-every-man-then-when-he-made-him-and-he/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [“A finished tale may give a man immortality in the light and literary sense; but an unfinished tale suggests another immortality, more essential and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/a-finished-tale-may-give-a-man-immortality-in-the-light-and-literary/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [If there is a God, man's immortality is certain. If not, Immortality would not be worth having.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-s-brightman/if-there-is-a-god-man-s-immortality-is-certain-if-not-immortality/) Edgar S. Brightman > [Do not believe that others will die, not you… I have wrestled with Thanatos knee to knee and I know how death is vanquished.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-renault/do-not-believe-that-others-will-die-not-you-i-have-wrestled-with/) [Mary Renault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-renault/) > [Surely God would not have created such a being as man, with an ability to grasp the infinite, to exist only for a day!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/surely-god-would-not-have-created-such-a-being-as-man-with-an-ability/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“The immortality of the soul is that there is no death without life and there is no life after death. Life goes on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/the-immortality-of-the-soul-is-that-there-is-no-death-without-life/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [True success is figuring out your life and career so you never have to be around jerks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/true-success-is-figuring-out-your-life-and-career-so-you-never-have/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [“True success is accepting yourself for what you have to offer rather than for what you cannot do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-shepp/true-success-is-accepting-yourself-for-what-you-have-to-offer-rather/) Dave Shepp > [True success depends more on character than on intellect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-armand-montapert/true-success-depends-more-on-character-than-on-intellect/) [Alfred Armand Montapert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-armand-montapert/) > [“True success is not measured by how much you have achieved but by how many times you've failed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-leslie/true-success-is-not-measured-by-how-much-you-have-achieved-but-by-how/) Brian Leslie ## More by James Dean > [“No pretendo ser el mejor. Únicamente quiero volar tan alto que nadie pueda alcanzarme. No para demostrar nada, sólo quiero llegar a donde se…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/no-pretendo-ser-el-mejor-nicamente-quiero-volar-tan-alto-que-nadie/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [“I'd rather have people hiss than yawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-d-rather-have-people-hiss-than-yawn/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/forgive-quickly-kiss-slowly-love-truly-laugh-uncontrollably/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I don't have to explain anything to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-don-t-have-to-explain-anything-to-anybody/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I also became close to nature, and am now able to appreciate the beauty with which this world is endowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-also-became-close-to-nature-and-am-now-able-to-appreciate-the/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [An actor should be judged by his performance only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/an-actor-should-be-judged-by-his-performance-only/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Reality doesn't have any preconceived ideas. You've got to learn how to smoke the cigarette, not act smoking the cigarette. You need to drink…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/reality-doesn-t-have-any-preconceived-ideas-you-ve-got-to-learn-how/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [You try to be yourself, do only what you've always done and like to do, and right away, you're tagged as an oddball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/you-try-to-be-yourself-do-only-what-you-ve-always-done-and-like-to-do/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I don't want anything seventy-thirty. Fifty-fifty's always good enough for me. I don't want to have to give anybody seventy; I don't want anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-don-t-want-anything-seventy-thirty-fifty-fifty-s-always-good-enough/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [My purpose in life does not include a hankering to charm society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/my-purpose-in-life-does-not-include-a-hankering-to-charm-society/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [But you can't show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/but-you-can-t-show-some-far-off-idyllic-conception-of-behavior-if-you/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I think the one thing this picture shows that's new is the psychological disproportion of the kids' demands on the parents. Parents are often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-think-the-one-thing-this-picture-shows-that-s-new-is-the/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [Dream as though you'll live forever, Live as though you'll die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/dream-as-though-you-ll-live-forever-live-as-though-you-ll-die-tomorrow/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [What do we need all that for?”If a picture is psychologically motivated, if there is truth in the relationship in it, then I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/what-do-we-need-all-that-for-if-a-picture-is-psychologically/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) > [I have a fairly adequate knowledge of Satanic forces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dean/i-have-a-fairly-adequate-knowledge-of-satanic-forces/) [James Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) [Explore all 73 James Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dean/) ## More Great man quotes > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Football is a team sport. I'm proud of what I achieved in my career, but I also know that I wouldn't have achieved any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/football-is-a-team-sport-i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-in-my-career/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [My father was a really great man. I'll never forget the last thing he ever said to me. Nor will I ever repeat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-s-hall/my-father-was-a-really-great-man-i-ll-never-forget-the-last-thing-he/) [John S. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-s-hall/) > [To vilify a great man is the readiest way in which a little man can himself attain greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/to-vilify-a-great-man-is-the-readiest-way-in-which-a-little-man-can/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) > [There are a great many colored people who are ashamed of the cake-walk, but I think they ought to be proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-weldon-johnson/there-are-a-great-many-colored-people-who-are-ashamed-of-the-cake/) [James Weldon Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-weldon-johnson/) > [“The effects of the division of labour, in the general business of society, will be more easily understood by considering in what manner it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-effects-of-the-division-of-labour-in-the-general-business-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Greatness by nature includes a power, but not a will to power. ... The great man, whether we comprehend him in the most intense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/greatness-by-nature-includes-a-power-but-not-a-will-to-power-the/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [A great man isn't the one who can show all his greatness, but great man is the one who can show his Humility upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-great-man-isn-t-the-one-who-can-show-all-his-greatness-but-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But the mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/but-the-mark-of-a-great-man-is-one-who-knows-when-to-set-aside-the/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [It's awfully hard to be the son of a great man and also of a half-crazy woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/it-s-awfully-hard-to-be-the-son-of-a-great-man-and-also-of-a-half/) [Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [We expect a great man to be a good reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-expect-a-great-man-to-be-a-good-reader/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nature never sends a great man into the planet, without confiding the secret to another soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/nature-never-sends-a-great-man-into-the-planet-without-confiding-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“We’re not the greatest thing in the universe, certainly not the smartest. Seems logical there’d be a great many things in it we can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-neuvel/we-re-not-the-greatest-thing-in-the-universe-certainly-not-the/) [Sylvain Neuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-neuvel/) > [All I am in private life is a literary critic and historian, that's my job...And I'm prepared to say on that basis if anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/all-i-am-in-private-life-is-a-literary-critic-and-historian-that-s-my/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) [Browse all 1,429 Great man quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-man/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If a man can bridge the gap between life and death,if he can live after he's died, then maybe he was a great man. 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