--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best legacy you could leave is not…" description: "\"The best legacy you could leave is not some building that is names after you or a piece of jewelry but rather a world that has been impacted and touche..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/jon-gordon-1655_action_the-best-legacy-you-could-leave-is-not-s_1125551.png" --- # The best legacy you could leave is not some building that… ![“The best legacy you could leave is not some building that is names after you or a piece of jewelry but rather a world that has been impacted and touched by your presence, your joy, and your positive actions.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/jon-gordon-1655_action_the-best-legacy-you-could-leave-is-not-s_1125551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/jon-gordon-1655_action_the-best-legacy-you-could-leave-is-not-s_1125551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb4/jon-gordon-1655_action_the-best-legacy-you-could-leave-is-not-s_1125551.png) > “The best legacy you could leave is not some building that is names after you or a piece of jewelry but rather a world that has been impacted and touched by your presence, your joy, and your positive actions.” [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legacy is defined by impact and joy shared, not material monuments. **In simple terms:** Leave a positive impact, not just objects. Key Takeaway Focus on meaningful influence. Themes legacy impact joy Mood uplifting hopeful Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - community service - mentorship - creative expression Key Concepts positive psychology social contribution Questions to Reflect On - What impact do you want to be remembered for? - How can you spread joy daily? A Different Perspective Legacy can be overlooked without documentation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Best Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-legacy-671816/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Jewelry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jewelry/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Legacy Leave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy-leave-494033/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Pieces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pieces/) [Presence Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presence-joy-1315247/) [Touched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touched/) [Touched Presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touched-presence-3066265/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Impacted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-impacted-3066264/) [Your presence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-presence/) ## Related quotes > [True change happens within, not without. Find the Now within. Everybody you come in contact with will be touched by your presence and affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/true-change-happens-within-not-without-find-the-now-within-everybody/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The best legacy we leave is not for our children but in our children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-roberts/the-best-legacy-we-leave-is-not-for-our-children-but-in-our-children/) [Deborah Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-roberts/) > [Among us on the earth there is His memory; but in the Kingdom of heaven His very Presence. That Presence is the joy of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/among-us-on-the-earth-there-is-his-memory-but-in-the-kingdom-of/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [Know that you are a miracle and that you have a unique place in the cosmic plan. You are here to be the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/know-that-you-are-a-miracle-and-that-you-have-a-unique-place-in-the/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Joy has come to live with me. How can I be sad? I do so love Thy presence, which is joy within me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/joy-has-come-to-live-with-me-how-can-i-be-sad-i-do-so-love-thy/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [“You need to remember the best legacy you can give your kids is an example of a life well lived. They may listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-castillo/you-need-to-remember-the-best-legacy-you-can-give-your-kids-is-an/) [Brooke Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooke-castillo/) > [“The best legacy a man can leave his children is the memory and influence of a large, broad, finely developed mentality, a well-disciplined, highly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orison-swett-marden/the-best-legacy-a-man-can-leave-his-children-is-the-memory-and/) [Orison Swett Marden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orison-swett-marden/) > [The best legacy I can leave my children is free speech, and the example of using it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-sidney/the-best-legacy-i-can-leave-my-children-is-free-speech-and-the/) [Philip Sidney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-sidney/) > [You've got to keep being 100 percent, keep doing what's best for you and your legacy, and then build and help other people around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-k-r-i-t/you-ve-got-to-keep-being-100-percent-keep-doing-what-s-best-for-you/) [Big K.R.I.T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-k-r-i-t/) > [How you use the opportunities your given to affect the world around you will determine the legacy you leave behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-dungy/how-you-use-the-opportunities-your-given-to-affect-the-world-around/) [Tony Dungy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-dungy/) > [I've always said your legacy is what you leave behind you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-waltrip/i-ve-always-said-your-legacy-is-what-you-leave-behind-you/) [Darrell Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-waltrip/) > [Everyone leaves a legacy, whether they want to or not. The question is, “What kind of legacy will you leave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dillon-burroughs/everyone-leaves-a-legacy-whether-they-want-to-or-not-the-question-is/) [Dillon Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dillon-burroughs/) > [What you choose to do with your time while you still alive thats up to you. Know dat once u gone what ever legacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dul/what-you-choose-to-do-with-your-time-while-you-still-alive-thats-up/) [Dul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dul/) > [For me, the legacy you leave is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-rahm/for-me-the-legacy-you-leave-is-very-important/) [Jon Rahm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-rahm/) > [What legacy can I leave behind to everybody that they will remember me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/what-legacy-can-i-leave-behind-to-everybody-that-they-will-remember-me/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) ## More by Jon Gordon > [Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/joe-henderson-who-i-maybe-to-me-if-i-had-to-pick-one-improviser-in-my/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/benny-carter-came-up-to-me-and-said-to-me-you-know-in-the-whole/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/know-that-i-m-not-a-human-being-having-a-spiritual-experience-i-m-a/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [It's very unlikely you're a genius, but, if you're ready to work at it hard and you want to listen to music all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/it-s-very-unlikely-you-re-a-genius-but-if-you-re-ready-to-work-at-it/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet some amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/the-first-jazz-cruise-that-i-was-on-was-91-i-played-with-maria/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I just lucked into a lot of good people man. In my life and through friends, and in the music, that really embraced me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-just-lucked-into-a-lot-of-good-people-man-in-my-life-and-through/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Every morning you have a choice. Are you going to be a positive thinker or a negative thinker? Positive thinking will energize you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/every-morning-you-have-a-choice-are-you-going-to-be-a-positive/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [I was occasionally getting calls for some things. But I would say, 22 to 29 was a lot of scuffling. Hoping to get called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/i-was-occasionally-getting-calls-for-some-things-but-i-would-say-22/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Dust on gold doesn't change the nature of gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/dust-on-gold-doesn-t-change-the-nature-of-gold/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There are a lot of people that impacted me. I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-that-impacted-me-i-remember-hearing-oscar/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [There's a lot of good people out here that want to help you grow and to help the music to continue to grow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/there-s-a-lot-of-good-people-out-here-that-want-to-help-you-grow-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums \[were in Sweet Basil\]. All those guys really took care of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/ernie-hayes-jimmy-lewis-and-either-belton-evans-or-khalil-mahdi-on/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [A true leader doesn't lead to gain power. They lead to empower and give power away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/a-true-leader-doesn-t-lead-to-gain-power-they-lead-to-empower-and/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [ We had Bob's \[Gordon\] records, and he's on Clifford Brown's first record as a leader. I believe it was Clifford Brown's first record as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/we-had-bob-s-gordon-records-and-he-s-on-clifford-brown-s-first-record/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) > [Another classical music teacher from Performing Arts that I've stayed in contact with is Jonathan Strasser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-gordon/another-classical-music-teacher-from-performing-arts-that-i-ve-stayed/) [Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) [Explore all 219 Jon Gordon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-gordon/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! 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