--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Someone once asked me what I want on my…" description: "\"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 life is all about. Trying. There's..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/mickey-rooney-10095_epitaph_someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my_215250.jpg" --- # Someone once asked me what I want on my epitaph when I… ![“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 life is all about. Trying. There's the tryers, the criers, and the liars.” quote by Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/mickey-rooney-10095_epitaph_someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my_215250.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/mickey-rooney-10095_epitaph_someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my_215250.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/289/mickey-rooney-10095_epitaph_someone-once-asked-me-what-i-want-on-my_215250.jpg) > “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 life is all about. Trying. There's the tryers, the criers, and the liars.” [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People value effort over legacy; trying is essential, while others criticize or lie. **In simple terms:** Effort matters more than fame; trying is key. Key Takeaway Focus on trying, not outcomes. Themes effort legacy honesty criticism Mood hopeful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career - athletics - personal development Key Concepts existentialism human motivation self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - What does “I tried” mean to you? - How do you handle criticism while staying true to effort? A Different Perspective Success is not guaranteed; effort may not be recognized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Epitaph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) [Game Of Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game-of-life/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Passing away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-away/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 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/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“-“The greatest discovery of this generation is the knowledge that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind” William James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sekou-obadias/the-greatest-discovery-of-this-generation-is-the-knowledge-that-human/) Sekou Obadias > [But paying is part of the game of life: it is the joy of buying that we crave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/but-paying-is-part-of-the-game-of-life-it-is-the-joy-of-buying-that/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [You can play the game of life, you can quit living your life, but you cannot pause life and come back to it when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mercado/you-can-play-the-game-of-life-you-can-quit-living-your-life-but-you/) [Joseph Mercado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mercado/) > [The game of life is worth playing, but the struggle is the prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/the-game-of-life-is-worth-playing-but-the-struggle-is-the-prize/) [William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/) > [To win in the game of life, we all need both a healthy mind and body. By involving children in the fun and dynamic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/digger-phelps/to-win-in-the-game-of-life-we-all-need-both-a-healthy-mind-and-body/) Digger Phelps > [“This is indeed only a game, but it is a game of life and death!” the Reverend John Hollidge of Gold Hill Baptist Church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-m-ewalt/this-is-indeed-only-a-game-but-it-is-a-game-of-life-and-death-the/) David M. Ewalt > [“The game of life has one rule: if you play, you lose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-chetanananda/the-game-of-life-has-one-rule-if-you-play-you-lose/) Swami Chetanananda > [Each day my friend you learn new things, Each phase is like life's new innings. Sometimes you get chances, sometimes you choose, Iin this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/each-day-my-friend-you-learn-new-things-each-phase-is-like-life-s-new/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Mickey Rooney > [You always pass failure on your way to success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/you-always-pass-failure-on-your-way-to-success/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Women liked me because I made them laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/women-liked-me-because-i-made-them-laugh/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Look, I come from vaudeville, I come from burlesque, I come from heartaches, I come from sadness, I come from gladness, I come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/look-i-come-from-vaudeville-i-come-from-burlesque-i-come-from/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Hollywood has unfortunately become a memory. It's nothing but a sign on the side of a hill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/hollywood-has-unfortunately-become-a-memory-it-s-nothing-but-a-sign/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I came from a poor family. My father was from Glasgow, Scotland; my mother's brothers were brakemen on the railroad. We didn't have anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-came-from-a-poor-family-my-father-was-from-glasgow-scotland-my/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Now. Now is the most important time of all of your young lives. And what does now stand for - N-O-W? No Other Way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/now-now-is-the-most-important-time-of-all-of-your-young-lives-and/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I keep going because if you stop, you stop. Why retire? Inspire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-keep-going-because-if-you-stop-you-stop-why-retire-inspire/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Meadowlark Lemon is one very clever man, unique and truly one of a kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/meadowlark-lemon-is-one-very-clever-man-unique-and-truly-one-of-a-kind/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I buy women shoes and they use them to walk away from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-buy-women-shoes-and-they-use-them-to-walk-away-from-me/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [My marriage license reads, 'To whom it may concern,'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/my-marriage-license-reads-to-whom-it-may-concern/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [And that's the way I have always lived, for the laughs – today. N-O-W. No Other Way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/and-that-s-the-way-i-have-always-lived-for-the-laughs-today-n-o-w-no/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [I belong to the public. The public made me. The public can break me. I owe them my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/i-belong-to-the-public-the-public-made-me-the-public-can-break-me-i/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [. . . children - not kids. Kids are goats. I've always spoken of my children as children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/children-not-kids-kids-are-goats-i-ve-always-spoken-of-my-children-as/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) > [Joe Louis was one of my closest friends… I'm a great boxing fan. I used to go to the American Legion Stadium in Hollywood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/joe-louis-was-one-of-my-closest-friends-i-m-a-great-boxing-fan-i-used/) [Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) [Explore all 68 Mickey Rooney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/) ## 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/) > [Poet: gardener of epitaphs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/poet-gardener-of-epitaphs/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [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/) [Browse all 233 Epitaph quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/epitaph/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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 life is all about. Trying. 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