A Quote by Joseph Addison

We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.

Joseph Addison

Quote Topics

Always Doing Posterity See Something Us Would

Quote Author

Joseph Addison
English - Writer
May 1, 1672 - June 17, 1719

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

Sir, very few people reach posterity. Who amongst us may arrive at that destination I presume not to vaticinate. Posterity is a most limited assembly. Those gentlemen who reach posterity are not much more numerous than the planets.

Benjamin Disraeli

I always think W.S. Merwin's poems will last of anyone writing today. If I had to bet on posterity I would bet Merwin. My poems could easily evaporate. So I don't know. If you find yourself as a writer thinking about posterity you should probably go out for a brisk walk or something.

Billy Collins

Few can be induced to labor exclusively for posterity - Posterity has done nothing for us

Abraham Lincoln

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

Boyle Roche

Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?

Groucho Marx

The thing with all the Founding Fathers, one of the most common words they used was 'posterity.' They were constantly referring to posterity.

Ron Chernow

What artists call posterity is the posterity of the work of art.

Marcel Proust

The Constitution of the United States was made not merely for the generation that then existed, but for posterity- unlimited, undefined, endless, perpetual posterity.

Henry Clay

As though there were a tie And obligation to posterity. We get them, bear them, breed, and nurse: What has posterity done for us. That we, lest they their rights should lose, Should trust our necks to gripe of noose?

John Trumbull

Men of genius are not to be analysed by commonplace rules. The rest of us who have been or are leaders, more commonplace in our quality, will do well to remember two things. One is never to forget posterity when devising a policy. The other is never to think of posterity when making a speech.

Robert Menzies

You would not believe some of the scripts I have seen. I have read something like 160 that I've rejected, and I keep them all, for posterity.

Jerry Lewis

Posterity alone rightly judges kings. Posterity alone has the right to accord or withhold honors.

Napoleon Bonaparte

I regard posterity as vulgar as success. I don't trust posterity. I don't think what's good is necessarily recognized in the long run. Too many good writers have disappeared.