--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is impossible to strive for the heroic…" description: "\"It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg" --- # It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title… ![“It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism.” quote by Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg) > “It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism.” [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Heroic status is granted by survivors, not by the hero themselves, making true heroism unknowable. **In simple terms:** Heroes are defined by others, not themselves. Key Takeaway Recognize that fame is external. Themes heroism legacy perception Mood reflective critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - war narratives - sports accolades - political leadership - cultural myths Key Concepts social construct survivor bias Questions to Reflect On - Who decides who is a hero? - Can one be heroic without recognition? A Different Perspective The definition may vary across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bestowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bestowed/) [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Heroic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroic/) [Heroism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroism/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Survivors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survivors/) ## Related quotes > [The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-title-of-hero-is-bestowed-by-the-survivors-upon-the-fallen-who/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The backside of heroism is often rather sad; women and servants know that. They know also that the heroism may be no less real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-backside-of-heroism-is-often-rather-sad-women-and-servants-know/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [If in heroic conduct, whether of warriors, philosophers or scientists, we see what is of essential nature, then we know that all heroism groups…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-rosenberg/if-in-heroic-conduct-whether-of-warriors-philosophers-or-scientists/) [Alfred Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-rosenberg/) > [I was in uniform for four years, and I know that heroism doesn't occur from taking orders, but rather from people who through their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thor-heyerdahl/i-was-in-uniform-for-four-years-and-i-know-that-heroism-doesn-t-occur/) [Thor Heyerdahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thor-heyerdahl/) > [“We do trust you—with some misgivings," thought the people, "and we do leave it to you—though you seem to be making a mess of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/we-do-trust-you-with-some-misgivings-thought-the-people-and-we-do/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [In a truly heroic life there is no peradventure. It is always doing or dying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/in-a-truly-heroic-life-there-is-no-peradventure-it-is-always-doing-or/) [Roswell Dwight Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roswell-dwight-hitchcock/) > [I've always felt heroic about my life... As a child, I remember little girls in the playground moaning about how boys could do more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-ve-always-felt-heroic-about-my-life-as-a-child-i-remember-little/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Follow your bliss. The heroic life is living the individual adventure. There is no security in following the call to adventure. Nothing is exciting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/follow-your-bliss-the-heroic-life-is-living-the-individual-adventure-2/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [There is nothing man desires more than a heroic life: there is nothing less common to men than heroism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/there-is-nothing-man-desires-more-than-a-heroic-life-there-is-nothing/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [A happy life is impos­si­ble; the best that a man can attain is a heroic life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/a-happy-life-is-impos-si-ble-the-best-that-a-man-can-attain-is-a/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“I am a man who would live an heroic life and make the world more endurable in his own sight. If, in some moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-am-a-man-who-would-live-an-heroic-life-and-make-the-world-more/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Follow your bliss. The heroic life is living the individual adventure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/follow-your-bliss-the-heroic-life-is-living-the-individual-adventure/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“It can come a bit hard sometimes to see one's own unique, heroic life pinned so pitilessly to a wall. At other times it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/it-can-come-a-bit-hard-sometimes-to-see-one-s-own-unique-heroic-life/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It should be pursued as in the presence of God, and under the solemn sanctions created by a lively sense of his omniscience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/it-should-be-pursued-as-in-the-presence-of-god-and-under-the-solemn/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [Well, I have a CBE and I accepted it with glee because it's not bestowed on you by the royal family, it's not bestowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/well-i-have-a-cbe-and-i-accepted-it-with-glee-because-it-s-not/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) ## More by Johan Huizinga > [Do you know anything that in all its innocence is more humiliating than the funny pages of a Sunday newspaper in America?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/do-you-know-anything-that-in-all-its-innocence-is-more-humiliating/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [Physical nature lies at our feet shackled with a hundred chains. What of the control of human nature? Do not point to the triumphs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/physical-nature-lies-at-our-feet-shackled-with-a-hundred-chains-what/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [Play: It is an an activity which proceeds within certain limits of time and space, in a visible order, according to rules freely accepted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/play-it-is-an-an-activity-which-proceeds-within-certain-limits-of/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [You can deny, if you like, nearly all abstractions: justice, beauty, truth, goodness, mind, God. You can deny seriousness, but not play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/you-can-deny-if-you-like-nearly-all-abstractions-justice-beauty-truth/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The awareness of the all-surpassing importance of social groups is now general property in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-awareness-of-the-all-surpassing-importance-of-social-groups-is/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-we-are-to-preserve-culture-we-must-continue-to-create-it/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [We have to transpose ourselves into this impressionability of mind, into this sensitivity to tears and spiritual repentance, intothis susceptibility, before we can judge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/we-have-to-transpose-ourselves-into-this-impressionability-of-mind/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If the Americans, in addition to the eagle and the Stars and Stripes and the more unofficial symbols of bison, moose and Indian, should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-the-americans-in-addition-to-the-eagle-and-the-stars-and-stripes/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The content of the ideal is a desire to return to the perfection of an imaginary past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-content-of-the-ideal-is-a-desire-to-return-to-the-perfection-of/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [Play is older than culture, for culture, however inadequately defined, always presupposes human society, and animals have not waited for man to teach them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/play-is-older-than-culture-for-culture-however-inadequately-defined/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [If, then, this civilization is to be saved, if it is not to be submerged by centuries of barbarism, but to secure the treasures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/if-then-this-civilization-is-to-be-saved-if-it-is-not-to-be-submerged/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [“Nyugalom az egyén számára, könyvektől körülvéve, ez a legvágyottabb állapot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/nyugalom-az-egy-n-sz-m-ra-k-nyvekt-l-k-r-lv-ve-ez-a-legv-gyottabb/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [“A bölcsesség úgy áramlik a balgasághoz, mint az ész az érzelmekhez. S a világban sokkal több az érzelem, mint az ész. Ami az életet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/a-b-lcsess-g-gy-ramlik-a-balgas-ghoz-mint-az-sz-az-rzelmekhez-s-a-vil/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [We can't put up a protectionist dam on our own against the neo-liberal world market either. However, we can try, together with our European…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/we-can-t-put-up-a-protectionist-dam-on-our-own-against-the-neo/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) > [The spirit of playful competition is, as a social impulse, older than culture itself and pervades all life like a veritable ferment. Ritual grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/the-spirit-of-playful-competition-is-as-a-social-impulse-older-than/) [Johan Huizinga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) [Explore all 92 Johan Huizinga quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/) ## More Bestowed quotes > [Well, I have a CBE and I accepted it with glee because it's not bestowed on you by the royal family, it's not bestowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/well-i-have-a-cbe-and-i-accepted-it-with-glee-because-it-s-not/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [It should be pursued as in the presence of God, and under the solemn sanctions created by a lively sense of his omniscience, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-greenleaf/it-should-be-pursued-as-in-the-presence-of-god-and-under-the-solemn/) [Simon Greenleaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-greenleaf/) > [Even the notion that women should have children at all is based on the idea that a woman's inherent and most important role is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-valenti/even-the-notion-that-women-should-have-children-at-all-is-based-on/) [Jessica Valenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-valenti/) > [O my Lord, whatever share of this world You have bestowed on me, bestow it to my enemies, and whatever share of the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabia-basri/o-my-lord-whatever-share-of-this-world-you-have-bestowed-on-me-bestow/) [Rabia Basri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabia-basri/) > [When you do good for others, good things are bestowed upon you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/when-you-do-good-for-others-good-things-are-bestowed-upon-you/) Enhance Dreams > [A queen is wise. She has earned her serenity, not having had it bestowed on her but having passer her tests. She has suffered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/a-queen-is-wise-she-has-earned-her-serenity-not-having-had-it/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > ["Otherwise grace is no more grace," since it is bestowed on us, not because we have done good works, but that we may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/otherwise-grace-is-no-more-grace-since-it-is-bestowed-on-us-not/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“So I say a name, even if self-bestowed, is better than a number. In the register of the potter's field I shall soon have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/so-i-say-a-name-even-if-self-bestowed-is-better-than-a-number-in-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“And actually it's not at all you I love, but rather the existence you have bestowed on me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/and-actually-it-s-not-at-all-you-i-love-but-rather-the-existence-you/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [It is a tremendous honor to be named poet laureate, but one that I find humbling as well, because it's the kind of thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-trethewey/it-is-a-tremendous-honor-to-be-named-poet-laureate-but-one-that-i/) [Natasha Trethewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-trethewey/) > [Personally, I do not know whether humankind is alone in this vast universe. But I do know that we should cherish our existence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/personally-i-do-not-know-whether-humankind-is-alone-in-this-vast/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We must never relent in our efforts to resolve conflicts through diplomacy and through all of the instruments bestowed by the Charter of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-felipe-vi/we-must-never-relent-in-our-efforts-to-resolve-conflicts-through/) [King Felipe VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-felipe-vi/) > [“I found myself confronted with a decision that no woman should ever have to make; do I look upward to assess the face attached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genna-rulon/i-found-myself-confronted-with-a-decision-that-no-woman-should-ever/) [Genna Rulon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genna-rulon/) > [President Bush bestowed the Congressional Medal on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aretha-franklin/president-bush-bestowed-the-congressional-medal-on-myself/) [Aretha Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aretha-franklin/) > [Those of us who participate realize the incredible honor bestowed on us, but to really understand the true scope and depth of the movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-toomey/those-of-us-who-participate-realize-the-incredible-honor-bestowed-on/) [Bill Toomey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-toomey/) [Browse all 39 Bestowed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bestowed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the fallen, who themselves know nothing of heroism.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Johan Huizinga" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroic-life-the-title-of-hero-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bestowed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroic-life-the-title-of-hero-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/johan-huizinga-5595_bestowed_it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroi_2896340.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is impossible to strive for the heroic life. The title of hero is bestowed by the survivors upon the…” — Johan Huizinga", "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": "Johan Huizinga", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-huizinga/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is impossible to strive for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroic-life-the-title-of-hero-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-huizinga/it-is-impossible-to-strive-for-the-heroic-life-the-title-of-hero-is/#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 } } ] } ```