[MichaelGG]

>Don't regret making works of art. It is all that succeeds us when we leave this realm.

Scientific discoveries also persist after your death. While making art is fine, it's hardly the only thing that people are known for.

On top of that, practically any action can leave a lasting impact, even terrible ones. So "effects persisting after you die" isn't really a way to determine value of your actions.