Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity. Posterity has done nothing for us.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
We are too careless of posterity, not considering that as they are so the next generation will be.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
I am certain that after the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for victories or defeats in battle or in politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
A blot in thy escutcheon to all futurity.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
We are always doing, says he, “something for posterity, but I would see posterity do something for us.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else.
—Heywood Hale Broun (1918–2001) American Journalist, Commentator, Actor
With respect to the authority of great names, it should be remembered, that he alone deserves to have any weight or influence with posterity, who has shown himself superior to the particular and predominant error of his own times.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform.
—Theodore H. White (1915–86) American Journalist, Historian, Novelist
The flattery of posterity is not worth much more than contemporary flattery, which is worth nothing.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
If any man seeks for greatness, let him forget greatness and ask for truth, and he will find both.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Time will unveil all things to posterity; it is a chatterer and speaks to those who do not question it.
—Euripides (480–406 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
Nothing is so common-place as to wish to be remarkable. Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else, – very rarely to those who say to themselves, “Go to, now, let us be a celebrated individual!”
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
No man is truly great who is great only in his own lifetime. The test of greatness is the page of history.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what is said against me won’t amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
If we would amend the world we should mend ourselves and teach our children to be not what we are but what they should be.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
The opportunist thinks of me and today.
The statesman thinks of us and tomorrow.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity; and none will do it enthusiastically. Posterity has done nothing for us; and theorize on it as we may, practically we shall do very little for it, unless we are made to think we are at the same time doing something for ourselves.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
If you think too much about being re-elected,
it is very difficult to be worth re-electing.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
My rule, in which I have always found satisfaction, is, never to turn aside in public affairs through views of private interest; but to go straight forward in doing what appears to me right at the time, leaving the consequences with Providence.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
It is pleasant to observe how free the present age is in laying taxes on the next. “Future ages shall talk of this; they shall be famous to all posterity”; whereas their time and thoughts will be taken up about present things, as ours are now.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Posterity gives every man his true value.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
A politician thinks of the next election; a statement of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Unitarian Clergyman, Abolitionist, Author
Of this our ancestors complained, we ourselves do so and our posterity will equally lament because goodness has vanished and evil habits prevail while human affairs grow worse and worse sinking into an abyss of wickedness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
When we are planning for posterity, we ought to remember that virtue is not hereditary.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Radical, Inventor
I would much rather that posterity should inquire why no statues were erected to me, than why they were.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
Brave deeds are most estimable when hidden.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind
in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974) American Journalist, Political Commentator
Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.
—Edward R. Murrow (1908–65) American Journalist, Radio Personality
Leave a Reply