--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The mass of men worry themselves into…" description: "\"The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets himself into immortality.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png" --- # The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves… ![“The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets himself into immortality.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png) > “The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets himself into immortality.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People obsess over mortality, yet some selfless souls achieve lasting legacy. **In simple terms:** Selfless acts outlive death. Key Takeaway Seek lasting impact beyond self. Themes legacy selflessness mortality Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - philanthropy - teaching - artistic creation - community service Key Concepts existentialism altruism Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance selfless giving with self-care? - What legacy do you wish to leave? A Different Perspective Self-sacrifice can be exploited or misunderstood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Legacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legacy/) [Mass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mass/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [How prudently we proud men compete for nameless graves, while now and then some starveling of Fate forgets himself into immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/how-prudently-we-proud-men-compete-for-nameless-graves-while-now-and-2/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [How prudently we proud men compete for nameless graves, while now and then some starveling of late forgets himself into immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/how-prudently-we-proud-men-compete-for-nameless-graves-while-now-and/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [“The soul forgets nothing. You must find a way to move beyond it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-turner/the-soul-forgets-nothing-you-must-find-a-way-to-move-beyond-it/) [Jennifer Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-turner/) > [The Super Bowl is a game. Life is for real. What I went through helped me get to where I am today. I won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-seau/the-super-bowl-is-a-game-life-is-for-real-what-i-went-through-helped/) [Junior Seau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-seau/) > [Ten thousand fools proclaim themselves into obscurity, while one wise man forgets himself into immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/ten-thousand-fools-proclaim-themselves-into-obscurity-while-one-wise/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“    STILL stands the forest primeval; but far away from its shadow,   Side by side, in their nameless graves, the lovers are sleeping.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/still-stands-the-forest-primeval-but-far-away-from-its-shadow-side-by/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [How prudently most men creep into nameless graves, while now and then one or two forget themselves into immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/how-prudently-most-men-creep-into-nameless-graves-while-now-and-then/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Worry is rust upon the blade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-work-that-kills-men-it-is-worry-worry-is-rust-upon-the-blade/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [More men die of worry than of work, because more men worry than work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/more-men-die-of-worry-than-of-work-because-more-men-worry-than-work/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [Women worry about the things that men forget. Men worry about the things that women remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/women-worry-about-the-things-that-men-forget-men-worry-about-the/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [“Don't do that. Don't make the mistake of calling what's inside me worry . Good men worry. Men like me take care of the problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-rocha/don-t-do-that-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-calling-what-s-inside-me/) [Kit Rocha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-rocha/) > [“It is not work that kills men; it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man than he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/it-is-not-work-that-kills-men-it-is-worry-work-is-healthy-you-can-2/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [If women think all men are the same, then why do they worry so much about picking the right one :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu/if-women-think-all-men-are-the-same-then-why-do-they-worry-so-much/) [Ritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu/) > [It is not work that kills men, it is worry. Work is healthy; you can hardly put more upon a man that he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-hughes/it-is-not-work-that-kills-men-it-is-worry-work-is-healthy-you-can/) [Simon Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-hughes/) > [As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-caesar/as-a-rule-men-worry-more-about-what-they-can-t-see-than-about-what/) [Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-caesar/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. 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You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets himself into immortality.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-nameless-graves-while-here-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-nameless-graves-while-here-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da0/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_death_the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-na_2529499.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The mass of men worry themselves into nameless graves while here and there a great unselfish soul forgets…” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The mass of men worry themselves...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-nameless-graves-while-here-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-mass-of-men-worry-themselves-into-nameless-graves-while-here-and/#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 } } ] } ```