People who are excited by posthumous fame forget that people who remember them will soon die too. And those after them in turn. Until their memory, passed from one to another like a candle flame, gutters and goes out.

But suppose that those who remembered you were immortal and your memory undying. What good would it do you? And I don't just mean when you're dead, but in your own lifetime. What use is praise, except to make your lifestyle a little more comfortable?

☠️ You're out of step - neglecting the gifts of nature to hand on someone's words in the future ☠️

– Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, chief OG Stoic and emperor of Rome. Note that these words were never meant to be published. MA wrote this to himself in his journal.