A Society Grows Great When Old Men Plant Trees Whose Shade They Know They Shall Never Sit In – Greek Proverb
Created at: April 30, 2025
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. — Greek Proverb
Legacy and Selflessness
The proverb epitomizes the virtue of acting for future generations. Instead of immediate personal gain, individuals invest effort with no expectation of direct benefit. This echoes the ancient Athenians, who built enduring public works like the Parthenon not for themselves but as a legacy for posterity (as recounted in Thucydides' *History of the Peloponnesian War*).
Long-term Thinking vs. Short-term Selfishness
Contrasting short-termism with thoughtful foresight, this saying criticizes societies focused solely on present comfort. Jared Diamond's *Collapse* (2005) gives the example of Easter Island, where resource depletion marginalized future welfare, unlike societies that prioritized sustainability.
Civic Responsibility
By highlighting generational responsibility, the proverb frames civic duty as an unpaid debt to both ancestors and descendants. In the Roman notion of *pietas*, individuals were expected to maintain and improve society for those yet unborn—Cicero’s *On Duties* prescribed such virtues.
Social Cohesion and Trust
Acts like tree-planting, whose benefits are delayed, reflect deep social trust and help bind communities. Robert Putnam’s *Bowling Alone* (2000) describes how cultures rich in social capital foster volunteering and public-minded actions, which strengthen democratic societies.
Nature as a Metaphor for Progress
The tree serves as a symbol of incremental, often unobserved progress. Just as saplings grow into mighty oaks over decades, social advances blossom from countless altruistic acts. In John Evelyn’s *Sylva* (1664), essaying on forestry, he argues planting trees is an act of faith in the future.