--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People asked me what I want as an…" description: "\"People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'\" — Mario Cuomo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png" --- # People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried' ![“People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'” quote by Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png) > “People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'” [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 wishes his epitaph to simply state “He tried,” emphasizing effort and perseverance over success or fame. **In simple terms:** He wants to be remembered for trying. Key Takeaway Value effort above outcomes. Themes legacy effort humility Mood reflective humble Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - career retrospectives - personal milestones - public speeches Key Concepts personal philosophy life reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does “He tried” mean to you? - How does effort define a life’s worth? A Different Perspective May seem modest without context of achievements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“I want this epitaph engraved on my tombstone: “See you soon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douard-lev/i-want-this-epitaph-engraved-on-my-tombstone-see-you-soon/) [Édouard Levé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douard-lev/) > [Once someone asked me, "What do you want to be your epitaph?" So I said, "Paulo Coelho died when he was alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/once-someone-asked-me-what-do-you-want-to-be-your-epitaph-so-i-said/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I don't want an epitaph on my gravestone that says, 'He would have pursued some big dreams in his life, but other people wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/i-don-t-want-an-epitaph-on-my-gravestone-that-says-he-would-have/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [“I didn't want my epitaph to be "She Played It Safe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hill-hearth/i-didn-t-want-my-epitaph-to-be-she-played-it-safe/) [Amy Hill Hearth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hill-hearth/) > [And were an epitaph to be my story I'd have a short one ready for my own. I would have written of me on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/and-were-an-epitaph-to-be-my-story-i-d-have-a-short-one-ready-for-my/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [One shouldn't write one's own epitaph. I hope people will remember me as one who did her best - and who wasn't an anachronism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/one-shouldn-t-write-one-s-own-epitaph-i-hope-people-will-remember-me/) [Margrethe II of Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-ii-of-denmark/) > [When I die, my epitaph should read: She Paid the Bills. That's the story of my private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-swanson/when-i-die-my-epitaph-should-read-she-paid-the-bills-that-s-the-story/) [Gloria Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-swanson/) > [The first character that will be on my epitaph is Monisha from 'Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupali-ganguly/the-first-character-that-will-be-on-my-epitaph-is-monisha-from/) [Rupali Ganguly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupali-ganguly/) > [...there occurred to me the simple epitaph which, when I am no more, I intend to have inscribed on my tombstone. It was this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-occurred-to-me-the-simple-epitaph-which-when-i-am-no-more-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I haven't written my own epitaph, and I'm not sure I should. Whatever it is, I hope it will be simple, and that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-haven-t-written-my-own-epitaph-and-i-m-not-sure-i-should-whatever/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [I knew that I shouldn’t have, but I did it all the same; and there you have my epitaph, or one of them, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/i-knew-that-i-shouldn-t-have-but-i-did-it-all-the-same-and-there-you/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“I wouldn't mind that as my epitaph.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/i-wouldn-t-mind-that-as-my-epitaph/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) > [To waste! You are unknown and unwanted, save by me. This, because you are fairly adept at the various embalming arts and you occasionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-zelazny/to-waste-you-are-unknown-and-unwanted-save-by-me-this-because-you-are/) [Roger Zelazny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-zelazny/) > [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/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [Outrage is easy, cheap, and oversold. The nation needs less anger and more thoughtful reflection, less shouting and more listening, less dissembling and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/outrage-is-easy-cheap-and-oversold-the-nation-needs-less-anger-and/) [Mario Cuomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) [Explore all 105 Mario Cuomo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/) ## 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": "People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mario Cuomo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitaph-he-tried/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Epitaph" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitaph-he-tried/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/mario-cuomo-4807_epitaph_people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitap_286195.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People asked me what I want as an epitaph: 'He tried'” — Mario Cuomo", "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": "Mario Cuomo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-cuomo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People asked me what I want...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitaph-he-tried/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-cuomo/people-asked-me-what-i-want-as-an-epitaph-he-tried/#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 } } ] } ```