I realised how rich I had become and I asked myself, 'Do I really want to be the richest person in the cemetery?'
David RubensteinRead
What do most people say on their deathbed? They don't say, 'I wish I'd made more money.' What they say is, 'I wish I'd spent more time with my family and done more for society or my community.'
Interpretation
What this quote means
On their deathbed, people often regret not spending more time with loved ones or contributing to their community rather than focusing on wealth.
This quote by David Rubenstein emphasizes the common regrets individuals have at the end of their lives. It highlights that when reflecting on their lives, people tend to wish for more meaningful connections with family and a greater impact on their community rather than the accumulation of wealth. It suggests that prioritizing relationships and contributions to society is ultimately more fulfilling than material success.
Themes
FamilyRegretLifeCommunityValues
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about work-life balance, one could use this quote to stress the importance of family time.
More from David Rubenstein
All quotes →Similar quotes
As a mother, you're only allowed to talk about the 'good' moments - not the ones when you've had enough and want to be on your own. Or just want to be a woman, not a mother.
Leila SlimaniRead
My brother and I were able to fantasize far more extravagantly about our parents' tastes and desires, their aspirations and their vices, by scanning their bookcases than by snooping in their closest. Their selves were on their shelves.
Anne FadimanRead
There are so many different elements to surfing. Small waves, big waves, long boards, short boards. This makes it a sport you can share with people. It's not just a solitary thing - it's become a family thing, too. It's about exercising and passing something on from father to son, and from mother to daughter.
Kelly SlaterRead
It is impossible to overestimate the influence of parents who understand the hearts of their children. Research shows that during the most important transitions of life—including those periods when youth are most likely to drift away from the Church—the greatest influence does not come from an interview with the bishop or some other leader but from the regular, warm, friendly, caring interaction with parents.
Robert D. HalesRead
Families who get evicted tend to live in worse housing than they did before, and they live in neighborhoods with higher poverty rates and higher crime rates than they did before.
Matthew DesmondRead
You have to pay attention to who you are. You need to know your family history as well as you can. It is important for young women to have preventive care. If you catch any women's cancers early it's the difference between life and death. Do you really want to leave your kids without a mother?
Cokie RobertsRead