--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have written my work, not as an essay…" description: "\"I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time\" — Thucydides" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/thucydides-2578_all-time_i-have-written-my-work-not-as-an-essay-w_866973.png" --- # I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win… ![“I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time” quote by Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/thucydides-2578_all-time_i-have-written-my-work-not-as-an-essay-w_866973.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/thucydides-2578_all-time_i-have-written-my-work-not-as-an-essay-w_866973.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97b/thucydides-2578_all-time_i-have-written-my-work-not-as-an-essay-w_866973.png) > “I have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the moment, but as a possession for all time” [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author aims to create a lasting work, valuing enduring significance over fleeting praise. **In simple terms:** Create lasting value, not temporary applause. Key Takeaway Focus on timeless impact. Themes legacy writing philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - academic publishing - personal memoir - public speaking Key Concepts historical narrative eternal relevance Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you want to leave? - How do you measure lasting impact? A Different Perspective Audience applause is fleeting; lasting work endures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [All time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/all-time/) [Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause/) [Applause Moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/applause-moment-679128/) [Essay Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essay-win-911041/) [Essays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essays/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Win Applause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-applause-911042/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Work Essay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-essay-911040/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-work-911039/) ## Related quotes > [The envious die not once, but as oft as the envied win applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baltasar-gracian/the-envious-die-not-once-but-as-oft-as-the-envied-win-applause/) [Baltasar Gracian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baltasar-gracian/) > [A vain man can never be utterly ruthless: he wants to win applause and therefore he accommodates himself to others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/a-vain-man-can-never-be-utterly-ruthless-he-wants-to-win-applause-and/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“The room was hushed for a heartbeat more, and then my classmates started to clap. 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I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) ## More by Thucydides > [Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/be-convinced-that-to-be-happy-means-to-be-free-and-that-to-be-free/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-the-habit-of-mankind-to-entrust-to-careless-hope-what-they-long/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Contempt for an assailant is best shown by bravery in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/contempt-for-an-assailant-is-best-shown-by-bravery-in-action/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The secret of happiness is freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-secret-of-happiness-is-freedom/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/and-it-is-certain-that-those-who-do-not-yield-to-their-equals-who/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [The strong do what they have to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/the-strong-do-what-they-have-to-do-and-the-weak-accept-what-they-have/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-useless-to-attack-men-who-could-not-be-controlled-even-if/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is an evil thing; but to submit to the dictation of other states is worse… Freedom, if we hold fast to it, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-an-evil-thing-but-to-submit-to-the-dictation-of-other-states/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/men-do-not-rest-content-with-parrying-the-attacks-of-a-superior-but/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [As for democracy, the men of sense among us knew what it was, and I perhaps as well as any, as I have more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/as-for-democracy-the-men-of-sense-among-us-knew-what-it-was-and-i/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/war-is-a-matter-not-so-much-of-arms-as-of-money/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Amassing of wealth is an opportunity for good deeds, not hubris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/amassing-of-wealth-is-an-opportunity-for-good-deeds-not-hubris/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [People get into the habit of entrusting the things they desire to wishful thinking, and subjecting things they don't desire to exhaustive thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/people-get-into-the-habit-of-entrusting-the-things-they-desire-to/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [Hope is an expensive commodity. It makes better sense to be prepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/hope-is-an-expensive-commodity-it-makes-better-sense-to-be-prepared/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) [Explore all 160 Thucydides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) ## More All time quotes > [To be positive at all times is to ignore all that is important, sacred or valuable. To be negative at all times is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/to-be-positive-at-all-times-is-to-ignore-all-that-is-important-sacred/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. 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