--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is the only creature we know, that…" description: "\"Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.\" — William Godwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png" --- # Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of… ![“Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.” quote by William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png) > “Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.” [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans uniquely leave a lasting memory after death, unlike other creatures. **In simple terms:** People leave lasting memories. Key Takeaway Create a lasting legacy. Themes mortality legacy humanity Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical existential When to use this quote - personal relationships - historical impact - memorials Key Concepts philosophy existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What memory do you want to leave? - How do you ensure it endures? A Different Perspective Memory can fade over time. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creature/) [Creature Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creature-know-2214384/) [Leaves Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaves-memory-621513/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-ended-1091133/) [Man Creature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-creature-439454/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-life/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) ## Related quotes > [If my heart is burn only one creature know what really happend with me;that is my blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moh-d-am-s-birni/if-my-heart-is-burn-only-one-creature-know-what-really-happend-with/) [Moh'd AM S/BIRNI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moh-d-am-s-birni/) > [Man - a creature made at the end of the week's work when God was tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-a-creature-made-at-the-end-of-the-week-s-work-when-god-was-tired/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To define a man: he must be a creature who makes me feel that I am a woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elinor-glyn/to-define-a-man-he-must-be-a-creature-who-makes-me-feel-that-i-am-a/) [Elinor Glyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elinor-glyn/) > [Man is the only creature that consumes without producing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/man-is-the-only-creature-that-consumes-without-producing/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [A man becomes the creature of his uniform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/a-man-becomes-the-creature-of-his-uniform/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-man-is-a-creature-of-the-age-in-which-he-lives-and-few-are-able/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Man is the only creature who has a nasty mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-is-the-only-creature-who-has-a-nasty-mind/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Do you think a man is the only creature with whom one may fall in love?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-maclane/do-you-think-a-man-is-the-only-creature-with-whom-one-may-fall-in-love/) [Mary MacLane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-maclane/) > [Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/man-is-the-only-creature-who-refuses-to-be-what-he-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Man is the creature of circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-owen/man-is-the-creature-of-circumstances/) [Robert Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-owen/) > [Man is the creature that cannot emerge from himself, that knows his fellows only in himself; when he asserts the contrary, he is lying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/man-is-the-creature-that-cannot-emerge-from-himself-that-knows-his/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. 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I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Was ever a great discovery prosecuted or an important benefit conferred upon the human race by him who was incapable of standing and thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/was-ever-a-great-discovery-prosecuted-or-an-important-benefit/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [The real or supposed rights of man are of two kinds, active and passive; the right in certain cases to do as we list;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/the-real-or-supposed-rights-of-man-are-of-two-kinds-active-and/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Soundness of understanding is connected with freedom of enquiry; consequently, opinion should, as far as public security will admit, be exempted from restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/soundness-of-understanding-is-connected-with-freedom-of-enquiry/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [Power is not happiness. Security and peace are more to be desired than a man at which nations tremble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/power-is-not-happiness-security-and-peace-are-more-to-be-desired-than/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/strange-that-men-from-age-to-age-should-consent-to-hold-their-lives/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) [Explore all 193 William Godwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) ## More Creature quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [“If they can worship a weird creature, which is even not existed; why I must not worship a beautiful one who is already here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-they-can-worship-a-weird-creature-which-is-even-not-existed-why-i/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/repugnant-is-a-creature-who-would-squander-the-ability-to-lift-an-eye/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [“What came to mind was a dinosaur. A tiny velociraptor, no bigger than her thumb. Relatively small, bur surprisingly ferocious. When the hasty drawing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-meyer/what-came-to-mind-was-a-dinosaur-a-tiny-velociraptor-no-bigger-than/) [Marissa Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-meyer/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“What a strange creature man is! He does not believe in God, but he does believe that if the bridge of is nose itches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-gogol/what-a-strange-creature-man-is-he-does-not-believe-in-god-but-he-does/) [Nikolai Gogol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-gogol/) > [“If you're in middle of the hell you have to be a creature sometimes...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-saravana-kumar/if-you-re-in-middle-of-the-hell-you-have-to-be-a-creature-sometimes/) [M Saravana Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-saravana-kumar/) > [How could you deal with a creature as devious as woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/how-could-you-deal-with-a-creature-as-devious-as-woman/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“The smaller the creature, the bolder its spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-smaller-the-creature-the-bolder-its-spirit/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [My mother was known as the 'bird lady' of the neighborhood. Anything injured, or any unusual creature somebody found, they would always come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/my-mother-was-known-as-the-bird-lady-of-the-neighborhood-anything/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [What makes us different? We're the creature that can decide not to do something that we are capable of doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/what-makes-us-different-we-re-the-creature-that-can-decide-not-to-do/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [She was the only creature in the world who would really care if something happened to me, even if it was only because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-clement-moore/she-was-the-only-creature-in-the-world-who-would-really-care-if/) [Rosemary Clement-Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-clement-moore/) > [“That creature which we idolize God justly removes from us, or embitters to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/that-creature-which-we-idolize-god-justly-removes-from-us-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In a word, man in London is not quite so good a creature as he is out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-galt/in-a-word-man-in-london-is-not-quite-so-good-a-creature-as-he-is-out/) [John Galt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-galt/) > [Motherhood is tough. If you just want a wonderful little creature to love, you can get a puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-walters/motherhood-is-tough-if-you-just-want-a-wonderful-little-creature-to/) [Barbara Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-walters/) [Browse all 424 Creature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of himself behind him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Godwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-when-the-term-of-his-natural/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Creature" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-when-the-term-of-his-natural/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/365/william-godwin-1978_creature_man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-wh_2356294.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man is the only creature we know, that, when the term of his natural life is ended, leaves the memory of…” — William Godwin", "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": "William Godwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man is the only creature we...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-when-the-term-of-his-natural/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/man-is-the-only-creature-we-know-that-when-the-term-of-his-natural/#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 } } ] } ```