--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did once answer the question 'What…" description: "\"I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,' and, 'He tried.' That's it...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/mario-cuomo-4807_answer_i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-woul_1456687.png" --- # I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your… ![“I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,' and, 'He tried.' That's it.” quote by Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/mario-cuomo-4807_answer_i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-woul_1456687.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/mario-cuomo-4807_answer_i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-woul_1456687.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7d6/mario-cuomo-4807_answer_i-did-once-answer-the-question-what-woul_1456687.png) > “I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,' and, 'He tried.' That's it.” [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on how he would be remembered, emphasizing effort over fame. **In simple terms:** He would be remembered for trying. Key Takeaway Focus on effort, not accolades. Themes legacy effort humility Mood reflective contemplative Type personal philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - personal reflection - memorial planning Key Concepts existentialism self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - What does 'trying' mean to you? - How do you want others to remember you? A Different Perspective Effort alone may not guarantee lasting impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [If you're going to sit on someone's tombstone, you might as well know something about them, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/if-you-re-going-to-sit-on-someone-s-tombstone-you-might-as-well-know/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Reputation is what men say about you on your tombstone; Character is what the angels say about you before the throne of God”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hersey-davis/reputation-is-what-men-say-about-you-on-your-tombstone-character-is/) William Hersey Davis > [I had not even thought of running for president until one day in 1991, at a small fund-raiser, completely unanticipated, someone stood up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-had-not-even-thought-of-running-for-president-until-one-day-in-1991/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Lie to me once, & I'll question everything you say after that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lie-to-me-once-i-ll-question-everything-you-say-after-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The creeds and beliefs Turning one against another. The differences that separate Instead of inspire. So ask yourself why you say - I must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-crisp/the-creeds-and-beliefs-turning-one-against-another-the-differences/) Tony Crisp > [“Lauren: "Can I ask you a question?" Angie: "Generally that's a question one should say no to. Often hell no.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/lauren-can-i-ask-you-a-question-angie-generally-that-s-a-question-one/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [I always question myself, but I always say, 'Come on, we can do something good.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-always-question-myself-but-i-always-say-come-on-we-can-do-something/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [You can say, "Well, I have a question," and someone will say, "Oh, so you hate America." And it has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/you-can-say-well-i-have-a-question-and-someone-will-say-oh-so-you/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Whoever can find the answer to this question: "How can I say this to my dog" has already won the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-von-stephanitz/whoever-can-find-the-answer-to-this-question-how-can-i-say-this-to-my/) [Max von Stephanitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-von-stephanitz/) > [Earlier, I used to always ask people if they want me to answer as Supriya or Hansa. 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It may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-beers/sir-i-see-a-lot-of-documents-in-my-day-to-day-business-and-i-can-t/) [Rand Beers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-beers/) > [Every time someone asks me where I'm from, I'm not sure how to answer that question... so I say I have no roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-merton/every-time-someone-asks-me-where-i-m-from-i-m-not-sure-how-to-answer/) [Alice Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-merton/) > [I don't want you to trust me, I want you to question everything I say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/i-don-t-want-you-to-trust-me-i-want-you-to-question-everything-i-say/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Once I catch you in a LIE it makes me question everything you SAY...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-i-catch-you-in-a-lie-it-makes-me-question-everything-you-say/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Mario Cuomo > [There is a respectable body of economic thought that holds that casino gambling is actually economically regressive to a state and a community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/there-is-a-respectable-body-of-economic-thought-that-holds-that/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [We believe in a government that is characterized by fairness and reasonableness, a reasonableness that goes beyond labels, that doesn't distort or promise to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/we-believe-in-a-government-that-is-characterized-by-fairness-and/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [America was born in outrageous ambition, so bold as to be improbable. The deprived, the oppressed, the powerless from all over the globe came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/america-was-born-in-outrageous-ambition-so-bold-as-to-be-improbable/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [The biggest aggravation in the Arab world, the biggest reason for their anger toward us and the creation of those suicide terrorists, is Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/the-biggest-aggravation-in-the-arab-world-the-biggest-reason-for/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Nobody has ever gotten a bigger push than Bill Clinton gave to Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/nobody-has-ever-gotten-a-bigger-push-than-bill-clinton-gave-to-obama/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [It is not a government's obligation to provide services, but to see that they are provided.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/it-is-not-a-government-s-obligation-to-provide-services-but-to-see/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [My favorite thought about Abraham Lincoln is he believed in two things: loving one another and working together to make this world better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/my-favorite-thought-about-abraham-lincoln-is-he-believed-in-two/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [9/11 occurs, and you're going to rebuild, and after awhile, the memory will be there, but there will be something new there, and different,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/9-11-occurs-and-you-re-going-to-rebuild-and-after-awhile-the-memory/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [The Mafia is a question every time an Italian raises his head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/the-mafia-is-a-question-every-time-an-italian-raises-his-head/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitaph-he-tried/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [I had not even thought of running for president until one day in 1991, at a small fund-raiser, completely unanticipated, someone stood up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-had-not-even-thought-of-running-for-president-until-one-day-in-1991/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [I protect my right to be a Catholic by preserving your right to believe as a Jew, a Protestant, or non-believer, or as anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-protect-my-right-to-be-a-catholic-by-preserving-your-right-to/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [I love immigrants. Legal, illegal - they're not to be despised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/i-love-immigrants-legal-illegal-they-re-not-to-be-despised/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [Barack Obama is probably one of the brightest in terms of sheer intelligence... also probably the best orator we've ever had as a president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/barack-obama-is-probably-one-of-the-brightest-in-terms-of-sheer/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) > [The American people need no course in philosophy or political science of church history to know that God should not be made into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/the-american-people-need-no-course-in-philosophy-or-political-science/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) [Explore all 105 Mario Cuomo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) ## More Answer quotes > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [What you are is a question only you can answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/what-you-are-is-a-question-only-you-can-answer/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [“And if you can’t say yes, answer anyway. Because I’d rather live with the answer than die with the question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ellis/and-if-you-can-t-say-yes-answer-anyway-because-i-d-rather-live-with/) Jon Ellis > [“There is a cure and answer to everything, we just haven't found them yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-halimi/there-is-a-cure-and-answer-to-everything-we-just-haven-t-found-them/) [Eve Halimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-halimi/) > [Whenever I'm asked about Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, I always answer: 'Neymar is the best,' not just because of his goals but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-carlos/whenever-i-m-asked-about-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-i-always/) [Roberto Carlos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-carlos/) > [A wiki works best where you're trying to answer a question that you can't easily pose, where there's not a natural structure that's known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ward-cunningham/a-wiki-works-best-where-you-re-trying-to-answer-a-question-that-you/) [Ward Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ward-cunningham/) > [“Those are good questions. I recognize good questions, because I can come up with them myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-brust/those-are-good-questions-i-recognize-good-questions-because-i-can/) [Steven Brust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-brust/) > [My answer is bring 'em on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/my-answer-is-bring-em-on/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [I'll answer anything... I'm brutally honest, actually, which gets me in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/i-ll-answer-anything-i-m-brutally-honest-actually-which-gets-me-in/) [Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/) > [“...I guess I can put two and two together." "Sometimes the answer's four," I said, "and sometimes it's twenty-two...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashiell-hammett/i-guess-i-can-put-two-and-two-together-sometimes-the-answer-s-four-i/) [Dashiell Hammett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashiell-hammett/) > [Jumping someone is never the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/jumping-someone-is-never-the-answer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I play along myself, even though I can't help the player. So I can't say what I think the answer might be. But I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-mcguinness/i-play-along-myself-even-though-i-can-t-help-the-player-so-i-can-t/) [Paddy McGuinness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-mcguinness/) > [Sometimes the question is complicated, but the answers are simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-suess/sometimes-the-question-is-complicated-but-the-answers-are-simple/) [Dr Suess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-suess/) Browse all 2,090 Answer quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did once answer the question 'What would you say on your tombstone?' I know what I would say: 'Mario Cuomo, 1932 - dash,' and, 'He tried.' 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