Henry Van Dyke Quotes

A man doesn't plant a tree for himself. He plants it for posterity.

In the fullness of time, when it is our turn to give, we must in turn plant gardens that we may never eat the fruit of, which will benefit the generations to come.

Hence it is that old men do plant young trees, the fruit whereof another age shall take.

As my dad said, you have an obligation to leave the world better than how you found it. And he also reminded us to be givers in this life, and not takers.

He plants trees to benefit another generation.

I'd like to think that the actions we take today will allow others in the future to discover the wonders of landscapes we helped protect but never had the chance to enjoy ourselves.

The power of noble deeds is to be preserved and passed on to the future.

When I think about my legacy, I think about the world that we leave behind for our children.

When a man plants a tree, he plants himself.

Too old to plant trees for my own gratification, I shall do it for my posterity.

The diligent farmer plants trees, of which he himself will never see the fruit.

That attitude of arrogance, that attitude of "It's all about me. It's all about what I can get out of life now" - well, I'm personally driven by wanting to get out of my life the best I can achieve as a gift for those who come after me.

When I die, I should be ashamed to leave enough to build me a monument if there were a wanting friend above ground. I would enjoy the pleasure of what I give by giving it alive and seeing another enjoy it.

Be a good ancestor. Stand for something bigger than yourself. Add value to the Earth during your sojourn.

A thing which I regret, and which I will try to remedy some time, is that I have never in my life planted a walnut. Nobody does plant them nowadays-when you see a walnut it is almost invariably an old tree. If you plant a walnut you are planting it for your grandchildren, and who cares a damn for his grandchildren?

He who plants a tree, plants a hope.

One must care about a world one will not see.

As a Green, my goal is to put a smile on the face of the coming generations.

We are too careless of posterity; not considering that as they are, so the next generation will be.

What our Seventh Generation will have is a consequence of our actions today.

Insist that the first question each of us asks isn't "What's good for me?" but "What's good for the country my children will inherit?

Ever since I had my first child I have been passionate in my commitment to preserve our precious resources for my children and their children's children. This is the obligation of all of us visiting this planet for a limited time.

Perhaps a good resolution for the new year would be to keep asking what world we want to pass on to the next generation. Indeed to ask whether we have a real and vivid sense of that next generation.

Be someone who listens, and you will be heard. Be someone who cares, and you will be loved. Be someone who gives, and you will be blessed. Be someone who comforts, and you will know peace.

Kind words and good deeds are eternal. You never know where their influence will end.