Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else

Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else

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.]

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.

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

What dazzles, for the moment spends its spirit;
What's genuine, shall posterity inherit.
[Ger., Was glanzt ist read more

What dazzles, for the moment spends its spirit;
What's genuine, shall posterity inherit.
[Ger., Was glanzt ist fur den Augenblick geboren;
Das Aechte bleibt der Nachwelt unverloren.]

It is the privilege of posterity to set matters right between those antagonists who, by their rivalry for greatness, divided read more

It is the privilege of posterity to set matters right between those antagonists who, by their rivalry for greatness, divided a whole age.

Posterity, thinned by the crime of its ancestors, shall hear of
those battles.
[Lat., Audiet pugnas, vitio parentum
read more

Posterity, thinned by the crime of its ancestors, shall hear of
those battles.
[Lat., Audiet pugnas, vitio parentum
Rara juventus.]

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?

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