People will remember something noteworthy and above the general folks and thoughts have done to the world. To be remembered in different level, there has to be broad calibre of tasks.
But interesting to look at the people are different in their choice, even there are some of the people who are remembered for their notoriety, for example Hitler and his deeds.
He wrote the whole 20th century by his own hands and 2nd world war is his contribution, that rewrote national border and heritages to some extents.