An epitaph is a short inscription carved on a gravestone or tomb that remembers and honors the person buried there. These brief messages often capture something meaningful about the deceased person: their character, accomplishments, beliefs, or the love others felt for them.

Epitaphs range from simple statements like “Beloved Mother and Teacher” to memorable quotes or even humor. Benjamin Franklin wrote his own epitaph comparing himself to an old book that would someday be reprinted “in a new and more beautiful edition.” Some epitaphs offer wisdom to the living, while others celebrate a life well lived.

Writing an epitaph requires careful thought: how do you sum up an entire human life in just a few words? What matters most? What would you want remembered?

You might encounter the word epitaph when reading about historical figures or visiting old cemeteries, where weathered stones carry messages from centuries past. Writers sometimes use “epitaph” metaphorically too, describing a final statement or lasting impression that helps define how someone or something will be remembered. In this way, an epitaph becomes more than words on stone: it's the essential truth about a person that endures after they're gone.