Not many people are known for making history.
Some stories have survived. While most people do not know who Eratosthenes was, you can find out. The same is true for many people who have played some role in making history.
Others are more well-known: Hitler, Einstein, Gandhi, Darwin, Shakespeare, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Jesus, Caesar, Aristotle, etc. Really good guys and really bad guys are often remembered. The same holds for really good gals and really bad gals.
If you want to be remembered, here are a few categories you might consider.
- Warriors – Commanders who fight in well-known wars may be remembered.
- Politicians – Leaders of countries and causes may be remembered.
- Writers – Both fiction and non-fiction storytellers may be remembered.
- Artists – Architects, sculptors, dancers, poets, painters, and more may be remembered.
- Scientists – People who advance our understanding may be remembered.
Obviously, there are other categories. Looking at these, I’ve always been more interested in the Arts and Sciences than in Politics and Wars. I say this knowing that Politics is very much a part of life in the Arts and Sciences. I say this knowing that Science is often funded to gain an advantage in fighting Wars. I say this knowing that Art, in the form of propaganda, can also be used to influence Politics and Wars.
Some people are remembered for decades; others are remembered for centuries. A few are remembered for millennia.
Why would you want to be remembered? “Everybody gets delusions of grandeur.” — Han Solo, Return of the Jedi
We’re all human. We pretty much all want to be remembered for something, such as kindness or playfulness.
Some of us start with more advantages than others. Some of us grow significantly from our experiences. In the end, it’s not up to us who history cherry-picks. It’s up to us to embrace our best selves and “to let the chips fall where they may”.
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