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?

As to posterity, I may ask (with somebody whom I have forgot)
what has it ever done to oblige read more

As to posterity, I may ask (with somebody whom I have forgot)
what has it ever done to oblige me?

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.]

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.

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

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

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?

After all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work, for an author can have read more

After all, it is style alone by which posterity will judge of a great work, for an author can have nothing truly his own but his style