--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Make a mark; don't be part of the living…" description: "\"Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead.\" — Terry Matthews" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg" --- # Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead. ![“Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead.” quote by Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg) > “Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead.” [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Leaving a lasting impact requires active contribution, not passive existence. **In simple terms:** Actively create a legacy. Key Takeaway Take purposeful action to be remembered. Themes legacy action motivation Mood determined optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - startup founding - community projects - public speaking - philanthropy Key Concepts personal impact entrepreneurship social contribution Questions to Reflect On - What mark do you want to leave? - How can you avoid becoming passive? A Different Perspective Fear of failure may deter bold moves. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Living Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-dead/) [Make Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-mark/) [Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mark/) ## Related quotes > [After a while he played with the pencil and the paper again and was delighted when he discovered how to make a mark with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/after-a-while-he-played-with-the-pencil-and-the-paper-again-and-was/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [Graffiti's always been a temporary art form. You make your mark and then they scrub it off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banksy/graffiti-s-always-been-a-temporary-art-form-you-make-your-mark-and/) [Banksy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banksy/) > [When you make your mark in the world, watch out for the envious with erasers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/when-you-make-your-mark-in-the-world-watch-out-for-the-envious-with/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [I certainly want to make a mark in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackky-bhagnani/i-certainly-want-to-make-a-mark-in-the-film-industry/) [Jackky Bhagnani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackky-bhagnani/) > [There must've been some part of me that wanted to make my mark. But there was never a defining moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-day-lewis/there-must-ve-been-some-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-make-my-mark-but/) [Daniel Day-Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-day-lewis/) > [Well, who’s real? The living or the dead?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-nicholson/well-who-s-real-the-living-or-the-dead/) [Scott Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-nicholson/) > [If you're not the brightest or if you're not great at sports, or if you're not artistic, then you've got to find a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-horgan/if-you-re-not-the-brightest-or-if-you-re-not-great-at-sports-or-if/) [Sharon Horgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-horgan/) > [Just seize every opportunity you have, embrace every experience. Make a mark, for all the right reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-wellington/just-seize-every-opportunity-you-have-embrace-every-experience-make-a/) [Chrissie Wellington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-wellington/) > [If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-you-re-going-to-live-leave-a-legacy-make-a-mark-on-the-world-that/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I'm pretty good with being calculated in what I do, when I'm going to make my mark on somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-corbin/i-m-pretty-good-with-being-calculated-in-what-i-do-when-i-m-going-to/) [Baron Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-corbin/) > [“Every child likes to take a pencil to make a mark. Everybody makes beautiful things when they are three, four, or five years old.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-siza/every-child-likes-to-take-a-pencil-to-make-a-mark-everybody-makes/) [Alvaro Siza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvaro-siza/) > [“The fact is that as writers we need to make our mark. But, to do that, we must help our words make their mark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suyog-ketkar/the-fact-is-that-as-writers-we-need-to-make-our-mark-but-to-do-that/) [Suyog Ketkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suyog-ketkar/) > [If you fail to make a mark, you might not get good work later. So, it is important for every actor to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-hassanandani-reddy/if-you-fail-to-make-a-mark-you-might-not-get-good-work-later-so-it-is/) [Anita Hassanandani Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-hassanandani-reddy/) > [“Life is short. Be sure to make your mark.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-r-johannes/life-is-short-be-sure-to-make-your-mark/) [S.R. Johannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-r-johannes/) > [“You are marked to make your mark!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-toon/you-are-marked-to-make-your-mark/) [Catherine Toon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-toon/) ## More by Terry Matthews > [I don't think I'm stubborn. I just focus on the task at hand and do what it takes. Persistence is the single most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/i-don-t-think-i-m-stubborn-i-just-focus-on-the-task-at-hand-and-do/) [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) > [And that's the secret. Timing, hard work and smart partners. Using that formula, I've either founded or funded over 80 companies, and none have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/and-that-s-the-secret-timing-hard-work-and-smart-partners-using-that/) [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) > [I am truly an angel investor and I'am not a passive investor.As a passive investor, I am awful because I can not put funding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/i-am-truly-an-angel-investor-and-i-am-not-a-passive-investor-as-a/) [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) > [The single most important route of success is persistence - never, ever give up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/the-single-most-important-route-of-success-is-persistence-never-ever/) [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) > [Our shipment of mowers was lost at sea and while we waited, winter descended and covered our green lawns with snow. That taught me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/our-shipment-of-mowers-was-lost-at-sea-and-while-we-waited-winter/) [Terry Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) [Explore all 6 Terry Matthews quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) [Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Matthews" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living-dead/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living-dead/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07f/terry-matthews-56460_dead_make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living_197713.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Make a mark; don't be part of the living dead.” — Terry Matthews", "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": "Terry Matthews", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-matthews/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Make a mark; don't be part...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living-dead/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-matthews/make-a-mark-don-t-be-part-of-the-living-dead/#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 } } ] } ```