When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are

The words of Bobby Knight, the fiery coach whose will was as unyielding as steel, ring with both defiance and humor: “When my time on earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass!” This is not a gentle farewell, but the battle cry of a man who lived unafraid of conflict and who met his critics not with apology but with defiance. Beneath its crudeness lies a lesson: to live true to oneself, unbent by the judgments of others.

The meaning is fierce. Knight is saying that life is too short to be ruled by the voices of critics. Whether praised or condemned, a man’s worth cannot be decided by the fickle tongues of others. His wish to be buried upside down so his enemies might kiss him even in death is both jest and declaration—a bold refusal to let disapproval define him. It is a reminder that those who dare greatly will always attract scorn, but scorn is powerless before a spirit that lives on its own terms.

The origin of these words lies in Knight’s long and controversial career as a basketball coach. He was celebrated for his brilliance and feared for his temper. His victories on the court were legendary, yet so too were his clashes with players, referees, and the press. These words, spoken near the end of his coaching life, reveal the essence of his philosophy: he would rather be remembered for living boldly and authentically than for pleasing everyone. Legacy, to him, was not about being loved universally, but about standing firm.

History offers parallels to this spirit. Think of Diogenes the Cynic, the ancient Greek philosopher who scorned convention and mocked the powerful. When Alexander the Great offered to grant him any wish, Diogenes replied, “Stand out of my sunlight.” Like Knight, he refused to bend to authority or reputation, caring little for what others thought. His life, strange and abrasive as it was, carried the lesson that greatness often offends, and truth-tellers rarely seek the approval of the crowd.

The deeper teaching is this: to live with courage is to accept the cost of criticism. No man who dares to lead, to innovate, to speak truth, or to defy convention will escape judgment. Yet the choice lies within us: shall we live cautiously, pleasing everyone but leaving no mark, or shall we live boldly, risking scorn yet carving our place in history? Knight’s words, crude though they may seem, are a reminder that greatness and criticism are inseparable companions.

The lesson for you, seeker, is to release the fear of what others will say. Live with integrity, guided by your values, not by the applause or anger of the crowd. Let criticism come, for it proves that you stood for something. Do not waste your life bowing to the voices of detractors. If you must choose, choose to be misunderstood in the pursuit of greatness, rather than universally accepted in mediocrity.

Practical actions follow. Speak boldly when truth demands it, even if others sneer. Pursue your work with passion, knowing that not all will approve. Remember your critics, but do not serve them—serve instead the calling within your own heart. And when the time of your departure comes, let it be said not that you lived quietly, but that you lived with such force that even your enemies could not ignore you.

So remember, children of tomorrow: the measure of a life is not the silence of critics, but the strength of conviction. Live boldly, even if others curse you. Live authentically, even if others mock you. Live fiercely, so that even in death, your spirit cannot be silenced. For the greatest shame is not to be criticized, but to have lived so timidly that no one cared enough to speak at all.