"Fame is the inheritance not of the dead, but of the living. It is we who look back with lofty pride to the great names of antiquity"

This quote by William Hazlitt speaks to the concept that popularity is not something that is inherited from the dead, but rather something that is made by the living. He is recommending that it is the living who recall with pride to the fantastic names of antiquity. This suggests that it is the living who are accountable for protecting the legacy of those who have actually come prior to us. It depends on us to keep in mind and honor the achievements of those who have gone before us. By doing so, we can ensure that their tradition lives on which their names are kept in mind for generations to come. This quote acts as a reminder that we ought to aim to make our own mark on the world and to make sure that our own legacy is remembered for several years to come.