Less glory is more liberty. When the drum is silent, reason sometimes speaks.
Albert PikeRead
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Interpretation
Our individual achievements fade away, but the impact we make on others endures beyond our lifetime.
This quote by Albert Pike reflects the idea that personal accomplishments are transient and will only be remembered as long as we are alive. In contrast, the contributions we make to the lives of others and society at large have a lasting effect, creating a legacy that transcends our existence. It emphasizes the value of altruism and encourages individuals to focus on collective well-being rather than mere self-interest.
In practice
During a charity event to inspire donations, you might say this quote to illustrate the importance of giving.
Less glory is more liberty. When the drum is silent, reason sometimes speaks.
He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the winds. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current... Only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on toward ultimate success.
Let us drink together, fellows, as we did in days of yore. And still enjoy the golden hours that Fortune has in store; The absent friends remembered be, in all thatβs sung or said, And Love immortal consecrate the memory of the dead.
War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.
Two forms of government are favorable to the prevalence of falsehood and deceit. Under a Despotism, men are false, treacherous, and deceitful through fear, like slaves dreading the lash. Under a Democracy they are so as a means of attaining popularity and office, and because of the greed for wealth.
Philosophy is a kind of journey, ever learning yet never arriving at the ideal perfection of truth.
The rich are always advising the poor, but the poor seldom return the compliment.
We have been so successful in the past century at the art of living longer and staying alive that we have forgotten how to die. Too often we learn the hard way. As soon as the baby boomers pass pensionable age, their lesson will be harsher still.
'Culture' is a finite segment of the meaningless infinity of the world process, a segment on which human beings confer meaning and significance.
Language is the archives of history.
There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil.
Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would come to be different.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.