"I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived."  This quote is from Father LaTour in Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop.  It's been a number of years since I read that book, and I honestly don't remember many details about the story line, but for some reason that passage has always stuck with me.  I thought it was a nice sentiment and possibly a good guide to live one's life by.  So, when I die, I hope my wife and kids will take a minute to consider whether they think I've lived that kind of a life and if so, I would appreciate if they would use that quote as the inspiration for my epitaph.  Not the actual quote, because that would sound silly, but maybe something like "He died of having lived."  Or, it they figure I don't deserve that, they can just put whatever they want on there because really, I'll be dead anyway.