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 I despise mankind in all its strata; I foresee that our 
descendants will be still far unhappier than we read more 
 I despise mankind in all its strata; I foresee that our 
descendants will be still far unhappier than we are. Would I not 
be a criminal if, notwithstanding this view, I should provide for 
progeny, i.e. for unfortunates?
 [Ger., Ich verachte die Menschheit in allen ihren Schichten; ich 
sehe es voraus, dass unsere Nachkommen noch weit unglucklicher 
sein werden, als wir. Sollte ich nicht ein Sunder sein, wenn ich 
trotz dieser Ansicht fur Nachkommen, d.h. fur Ungluckliche 
sorgte? 
A foreign nation is a kind of contemporaneous posterity.
A foreign nation is a kind of contemporaneous posterity.
The nations which have put mankind and posterity most in their debt have been small states Israel, Athens, Florence, Elizabethan read more
The nations which have put mankind and posterity most in their debt have been small states Israel, Athens, Florence, Elizabethan England
 The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce 
inferior to the hopes of the read more 
 The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce 
inferior to the hopes of the continuance of his own life. 
 He only half dies who leaves an image of himself in his sons.
 [It., Muore per meta chi lascia read more 
 He only half dies who leaves an image of himself in his sons.
 [It., Muore per meta chi lascia un' immagine di se stesso nei 
figi.] 
People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors
People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors
Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else
Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else
 What has poster'ty done for us,
 That we, lest they their rights should lose,
  Should trust our read more 
 What has poster'ty done for us,
 That we, lest they their rights should lose,
  Should trust our necks to gripe of noose? 
 Posterity pays for the sins of their fathers.
 [Lat., Culpam majorum posteri luunt.]  
 Posterity pays for the sins of their fathers.
 [Lat., Culpam majorum posteri luunt.]