Posterity is a most limited assembly. Those gentlemen who reach
posterity are not much more numerous than the planets.

Posterity is a most limited assembly. Those gentlemen who reach
posterity are not much more numerous than the planets.

Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else

Posterity is as likely to be wrong as anybody else

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.]

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.]

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?

Why should we put ourselves out of our way to do anything for
posterity; for what has posterity done read more

Why should we put ourselves out of our way to do anything for
posterity; for what has posterity done for us?

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

Strangers are contemporary posterity.
[Fr., Les etrangers sont la posterite contemporaine.]

Strangers are contemporary posterity.
[Fr., Les etrangers sont la posterite contemporaine.]

I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also read more

I hope that posterity will judge me kindly, not only as to the things which I have explained, but also to those which I have intentionally omitted so as to leave to others the pleasure of discovery.