From the vernacular body:

I was reminded of something Marcus Aurelius wrote . . .

"Words once in common use now sound archaic. And the names of the famous dead as well: Camillus, Caeso, Volesus, Dentatus…Scipio and Cato…Augustus…Hadrian and Antoninus, and…

Everything fades so quickly, turns into legend, and soon oblivion covers it.

And those are the ones who shone. The rest, "unknown, unasked for" a minute after death. What is "eternal" fame? Emptiness.

Then what should we work for?

Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech. A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring."