On the first landing, Langdon came face-to-face with a bronze bust of Masonic luminary Albert Pike, along with the engraving of his most famous quote: What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
In the story "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, the protagonist Langdon encounters a bronze bust of the prominent Masonic figure Albert Pike. This moment highlights the significance of Pike's contributions and philosophy within the Masonic tradition.
Inscribed alongside the bust is Pike's renowned quote, which emphasizes the idea that individual achievements are temporary and fade away, while acts of kindness and service to others transcend mortality and endure through time. This theme of legacy and altruism resonates throughout the narrative.