--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let my epitaph be, \"Here lies Joseph, who…" description: "\"Let my epitaph be, \"Here lies Joseph, who failed in everything he undertook.\"\" — Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg" --- # Let my epitaph be, "Here lies Joseph, who failed in… ![“Let my epitaph be, "Here lies Joseph, who failed in everything he undertook."” quote by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg) > “Let my epitaph be, "Here lies Joseph, who failed in everything he undertook."” Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging personal failure as a defining legacy, reflecting humility and self‑awareness. **In simple terms:** Admit failures as part of one's legacy. Key Takeaway Embrace humility about shortcomings. Themes humility legacy self‑awareness Mood reflective humorous Type historical philosophical When to use this quote - political career - personal projects - public reputation Key Concepts personal failure historical reflection leadership Questions to Reflect On - What lessons can failure teach? - How do you define a meaningful legacy? A Different Perspective Self‑deprecation may undermine confidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) ## Related quotes > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [I wish to have as my epitaph: 'Here lies a man who was wise enough to bring into his service men who knew more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/i-wish-to-have-as-my-epitaph-here-lies-a-man-who-was-wise-enough-to/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [I picture my epitaph: 'Here lies Paul Newman, who died a failure because his eyes turned brown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/i-picture-my-epitaph-here-lies-paul-newman-who-died-a-failure-because/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sleep-undisturbed-within-this-peaceful-shrine-till-angels-wake-thee/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/either-our-history-shall-with-full-mouth-speak-freely-of-our-acts-or/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > ["Gun-wielding recluse gunned down by local police" isn't the epitaph I want. I am hoping for "Witnesses reported the sound up to two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nicoll/gun-wielding-recluse-gunned-down-by-local-police-isn-t-the-epitaph-i/) [James Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nicoll/) > [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If I were to write my epitaph... Epitaph? Hey, shut-up Albert. I'd want to be remembered as someone who loved his sport and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/if-i-were-to-write-my-epitaph-epitaph-hey-shut-up-albert-i-d-want-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) ## More by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor > [Beauty is always queen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/beauty-is-always-queen/) Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor > [Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/your-work-is-ingenious-it-s-quality-work-and-there-are-simply-too/) Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Explore all 3 Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor quotes ## More Epitaph quotes > [If I were to write my epitaph... Epitaph? Hey, shut-up Albert. I'd want to be remembered as someone who loved his sport and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/if-i-were-to-write-my-epitaph-epitaph-hey-shut-up-albert-i-d-want-to/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Wouldn’t that make a charming epitaph? Here lies Cat. Killed not by fang, but Ferragamos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/wouldn-t-that-make-a-charming-epitaph-here-lies-cat-killed-not-by/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Epitaphs are cheap, and they do a poor chap a world of good after he is dead, especially if he had hard luck while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/epitaphs-are-cheap-and-they-do-a-poor-chap-a-world-of-good-after-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > ["Gun-wielding recluse gunned down by local police" isn't the epitaph I want. I am hoping for "Witnesses reported the sound up to two hundred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nicoll/gun-wielding-recluse-gunned-down-by-local-police-isn-t-the-epitaph-i/) [James Nicoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nicoll/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [Warm summer sun, shine kindly here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/warm-summer-sun-shine-kindly-here/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My epitaph? My epitaph will be, 'Curiosity did not kill this cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/studs-terkel/my-epitaph-my-epitaph-will-be-curiosity-did-not-kill-this-cat/) [Studs Terkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/studs-terkel/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/history-fades-into-fable-fact-becomes-clouded-with-doubt-and/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/either-our-history-shall-with-full-mouth-speak-freely-of-our-acts-or/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Over the epitaph of this generation it will say ENTERTAINED TO DEATH.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/over-the-epitaph-of-this-generation-it-will-say-entertained-to-death/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [Sleep undisturbed within this peaceful shrine, Till angels wake thee with a note like thine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/sleep-undisturbed-within-this-peaceful-shrine-till-angels-wake-thee/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I pass away. Just the words 'I tried.' That's what this game of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my-epitaph-when-i-pass-away-just/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Poet: gardener of epitaphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/poet-gardener-of-epitaphs/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) [Browse all 233 Epitaph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let my epitaph be, \"Here lies Joseph, who failed in everything he undertook.\"", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-failed-in-everything-he/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Epitaph" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-failed-in-everything-he/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/557/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor-7_epitaph_let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-f_310775.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let my epitaph be, \"Here lies Joseph, who failed in everything he undertook.\"” — Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor", "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": "Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let my epitaph be, \"Here lies...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-failed-in-everything-he/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-ii-holy-roman-emperor/let-my-epitaph-be-here-lies-joseph-who-failed-in-everything-he/#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 } } ] } ```