"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones"

Shakespeare’s observation in Julius Caesar speaks to the enduring nature of human actions and the complexities of legacy. Acts of malice, harm, or wrongdoing often outlast their perpetrators, leaving a lingering shadow in collective memory. When evil is committed, it creates tangible and intangible consequences, pain, distrust, broken systems, that can ripple through communities long after the individuals are gone. These harmful deeds are recounted in stories, cautionary tales, or even historical records, ensuring their continued presence in the minds of those who remember and are affected by them.

Conversely, acts of kindness or virtue seem more fleeting, often buried with their originator and soon forgotten by society. Good deeds may benefit others in the moment, but rarely are they as widely recounted or memorialized. The structures of memory and storytelling tend to emphasize drama, conflict, or moral lessons, which can cause noble actions to fade more quickly from public consciousness. People may acknowledge goodness in eulogies or personal anecdotes, but it seldom spreads as widely or as lastingly as tales of malfeasance.

Part of this phenomenon arises from a human tendency to be wary and self-protective; recalling harmful events or people serves as a preventative measure, warning others about possible dangers. Meanwhile, goodness feels less threatening and thus less pressing to retain or share. Culturally, villainy can be sensational and newsworthy, while everyday decency is expected and so goes unremarked. Over time, history may vilify a person for a single transgression while failing to account for years of positive contributions.

Shakespeare’s insight compels reflection on how society chooses to remember the dead: whether by allowing their mistakes to overshadow their virtues, or by consciously seeking to preserve evidence of their goodness. Ultimately, his words encourage a deeper awareness of how legacies are forged, urging a balance in how both good and evil are preserved in collective memory.