I wanted to be Stan Laurel, then I wanted to be Fred Astaire and then Captain Kangaroo. I actually started out as a radio announcer when I was 17 and never left the business so that's literally 70 years.
Dick Van DykeRead
Somebody asked what I wanted on my gravestone. I'm just going to put: 'Glad I Could Help.'
Interpretation
The quote reflects a desire to be remembered for the positive impact one has on others.
This quote by Dick Van Dyke conveys a simple yet profound sentiment about the importance of helping others throughout one's life. It suggests that the ultimate legacy one can leave behind is the mark made on the lives of others through kindness and support, highlighting a life well-lived focused on contributing positively to the world.
In practice
During a speech at a community event, I could use this quote to emphasize the importance of helping others.
I wanted to be Stan Laurel, then I wanted to be Fred Astaire and then Captain Kangaroo. I actually started out as a radio announcer when I was 17 and never left the business so that's literally 70 years.
I didn't even start dancing until I was in my thirties, and it was like flying.
I get little kids who recognize me from 'Mary Poppins,' and it just delights me because it's our third generation.
Just knowing you don't have the answers is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn - and those are all good things.
I never had a lot of drive, but because I had family responsibilities, I had a lot of tenacity - the tenacity of a drowning man.
I was lucky to get the kinds of parts I wanted. I always said I didn't want to do anything my kids can't see.
I was blind and heart broken and didn't want to do anything and Gus burst into my room and shouted, "I have wonderful news!" And I was like, "I don't really want to hear wonderful news right now," and Gus said, "This is wonderful news you want to hear," and I asked him, "Fine, what is it?" and he said, "You are going to live a good and long life filled with great and terrible moments that you cannot even imagine yet!
Timing is the essence of life, and definitely of comedy.
I must have something to engross my thoughts, some object in life which will fill this vacuum, and prevent this sad wearing away of the heart.
I would not have thought of eating a meal without drinking a beer.
Itβs like the grief has been covered over with some kind of blanket. Itβs still there, but the sharpest edges are .. muffled, sort of. Then, ever now and then, I lift the corner of the blanket just to check, and .. whoa! Like a knife! Iβm not sure that will ever change.
You can't have it all all at once. Over my lifespan, I think I have had it all, but in given periods in time, things were rough. And if you have a caring life partner, you help the other person when that person needs it.
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