"The important thing when you are going to do something brave is to have someone on hand to witness it."
—Michael Howard
"What's the point of being a big hero when nobody can even remember it?"
—Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Comic
"Thanks to you, peace has returned to Inkopolis! Not that anyone besides me will be thanking you for it... But that's the hero's way. The path we walk is a lonely one."
— Cap'n Cuttlefish, Splatoon
"Thanks to you, both the Great Zapfish and Callie are back, and peace has returned to Inkopolis. That being said, no one except us knows what truly happened, so don't expect the city to throw you a parade or anything. It’s like they always say: "The path of the hero is a lonely one."
— Marie, Splatoon 2
"Typical. First time in my life I'm a war hero and nobody knows about it."
Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bard's songs will remain.
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bard's songs will remain.
—Blind Guardian, "The Bard's Song (Into the Forest)"
"This would be a great Michael Weston story... if people were allowed to tell Michael Weston stories."
—Jason Bly, Burn Notice
Tirion Fordring: "You will not be forgotten, brother."
Bolvar Fordragon: "I must be forgotten, Tirion! If the world is to live free from the tyranny of fear, they must never know what was done here today. Tell them only that the Lich King is dead... and that Bolvar Fordragon died with him."
Bolvar Fordragon: "I must be forgotten, Tirion! If the world is to live free from the tyranny of fear, they must never know what was done here today. Tell them only that the Lich King is dead... and that Bolvar Fordragon died with him."
—World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King
"For every battle honour, a thousand heroes die alone, unsung, and unremembered."
—Unknown, Warhammer 40,000
"What you saw at the castle on that windy night...and what you saw at the bridge last night... How I smiled... Never utter a word to anyone. If you dare speak of it, I will find you wherever you are hiding, and I will kill you."
—Black Swordsman, Kigeki
You brought the field all standing with your courage and your luck
But unknown to most, you're lying there beside old General Brock
So you know what it is to scale the heights and fall just short of fame
And have not one in ten thousand know your name
But unknown to most, you're lying there beside old General Brock
So you know what it is to scale the heights and fall just short of fame
And have not one in ten thousand know your name
—Stan Rogers, "MacDonnell on the Heights"
We don't do it for the glory. We don't do it for the recognition... We do it because it needs to be done. Because if we don't, no one else will. And we do it even if no one knows what we've done. Even if no one knows we exist. Even if no one remembers we ever existed.
— Supergirl, Christmas with the Super-Heroes #2: Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot
As for Destiny, he is said to keep his own counsel and to be very busy, and is seen by only a few persons throughout eternity. Only the Endless saw him more than Superman. But he would probably assure you that many lessons were learned from the day two men would never forget, though they mentioned them to none.
And perhaps among the two greatest lessons were these:
That one of those men knew what it was like not to walk, but that someday, all such men might walk again.
And that the other believed indeed that somewhere, in a world he would never reach again, a man could truly fly.
And perhaps among the two greatest lessons were these:
That one of those men knew what it was like not to walk, but that someday, all such men might walk again.
And that the other believed indeed that somewhere, in a world he would never reach again, a man could truly fly.
"A gentleman's name should appear in the newspaper only three times: When he's born, when he marries, and when he dies. And we are, first and foremost, gentlemen."
— Harry Hart, Kingsman: The Secret Service
Ozpin leaned back and took a long drink, sighing contentedly. "But how about you? Are you happy?"
Jaune blinked. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"No one will recognise the work you put into this. Few will know a deal was ever made, or how close we came to disaster, but even among those who do, it will be myself and Cinder who take the credit for what was decided. What was averted. Your involvement, despite how important it was, will likely never be recognised. Are you content with that?"
"I am."
Jaune blinked. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"No one will recognise the work you put into this. Few will know a deal was ever made, or how close we came to disaster, but even among those who do, it will be myself and Cinder who take the credit for what was decided. What was averted. Your involvement, despite how important it was, will likely never be recognised. Are you content with that?"
"I am."
The things we saw that day in the village became a secret we would have to keep from everyone for the rest of our lives.
— Luke narrating, Professor Layton and the Curious Village
I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
—The Bible (New International Version), Ecclesiastes 9:13-16
“You want to know what Rachel died for?
“Little planet known as Anarres, fifth from its sun, next galaxy over. Has somewhere in the range of four hundred thousand inhabitants, all peaceful. They look kind of like flying blobs of spaghetti, they farm hydrogen—don’t ask me how—and Visser Seventeen would have taken the Blade ship and crashed over that planet like a forest fire hitting a paper factory, if not for what Rachel did.
“And you want to know the part that’ll really bake your noodle? None of them know who she is. None of them ever will. The planet Anarres will keep right on spinning on its track, full of free beings going about their boring hydrogen-farming lives, until it falls into a black hole, and no one on it will ever know that that’s only the case because of some blond-haired alien with attitude problems. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s still true. They’re all still alive and free because of her, and knowing about it doesn’t make a difference.”
“Little planet known as Anarres, fifth from its sun, next galaxy over. Has somewhere in the range of four hundred thousand inhabitants, all peaceful. They look kind of like flying blobs of spaghetti, they farm hydrogen—don’t ask me how—and Visser Seventeen would have taken the Blade ship and crashed over that planet like a forest fire hitting a paper factory, if not for what Rachel did.
“And you want to know the part that’ll really bake your noodle? None of them know who she is. None of them ever will. The planet Anarres will keep right on spinning on its track, full of free beings going about their boring hydrogen-farming lives, until it falls into a black hole, and no one on it will ever know that that’s only the case because of some blond-haired alien with attitude problems. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s still true. They’re all still alive and free because of her, and knowing about it doesn’t make a difference.”
— Tom, Animorphs fanfic Back to the Future
What remains of a man, when that man is dead and gone?
Only memories and stories of his deeds will linger on.
But if a man's accomplishments aren't in the tale they tell
Are the deeds that go unheralded his legacy as well?
Only memories and stories of his deeds will linger on.
But if a man's accomplishments aren't in the tale they tell
Are the deeds that go unheralded his legacy as well?
Archer: Is this how it ends, then?
Smith: How what ends?
Archer: Saving the world. That's what we did, right?
Jones: Yes, that is what we did.
Archer: Is it always like this? Weary farewells and shuffling off home for a hot bath and a good night's sleep?
Smith: A good night's sleep if you're lucky.
Jones: Yes, Agent Archer, it is always like this. Saving the world is our job, you see. If we do it properly, nobody even knows the world was in jeopardy to begin with. Not a lot of fanfare, I suppose. Just the satisfaction of a job well done.
Smith: How what ends?
Archer: Saving the world. That's what we did, right?
Jones: Yes, that is what we did.
Archer: Is it always like this? Weary farewells and shuffling off home for a hot bath and a good night's sleep?
Smith: A good night's sleep if you're lucky.
Jones: Yes, Agent Archer, it is always like this. Saving the world is our job, you see. If we do it properly, nobody even knows the world was in jeopardy to begin with. Not a lot of fanfare, I suppose. Just the satisfaction of a job well done.
Veth: There is a brewing supernatural force that could effect the entire world, and no one knows about this but us, and we are the only ones who can stop it? I mean... this is our thing! If we succeed no one will know what we've done, if we fail the world will end? This is what we do!
Jester: This is what we're good at!
Beau: The heroes no one asked for! YES!
Jester: This is what we're good at!
Beau: The heroes no one asked for! YES!
—Critical Role "The Mighty Nein Reunited"
I saw the end of war
I watched the soldiers come and go
And I kept my watch forever
So many brave men fell in the battles that were raging down below
I have seen it all but none will hear my story
I watched the soldiers come and go
And I kept my watch forever
So many brave men fell in the battles that were raging down below
I have seen it all but none will hear my story
—Sabaton, "Soldier of Heaven"
It had been a long time since the city had witnessed scenes of such unbridled joy. Children were playing in the streets while waiting drivers stopped to watch. Some even got out of their cars and joined in the games. People were standing around everywhere, happily chatting with each other and genuinely interested in their neighbors' well-being. Those who were on their way to work took time to admire the flowers in a window box or to throw some seeds to the birds along the way. Doctors, too, suddenly had time to dedicate to their patients, and workers of every kind could do their jobs calmly and lovingly again, now that the point was no longer to do as much as possible as quickly as they could. They were able to take as much time as they needed because from then on there was more than enough.
But many people never discovered whom they had to thank for all of this and what had actually transpired during that hour, that blink of an eye. Most people probably wouldn't have believed it anyway. Only Momo's friends knew and believed because when little Momo and old Beppo arrived back at the amphitheater that day, the children were all already there, waiting for them
But many people never discovered whom they had to thank for all of this and what had actually transpired during that hour, that blink of an eye. Most people probably wouldn't have believed it anyway. Only Momo's friends knew and believed because when little Momo and old Beppo arrived back at the amphitheater that day, the children were all already there, waiting for them
— Momo
"Computer...erase that entire personal log."
—Captain Benjamin Sisko, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the last line of "In the Pale Moonlight"
