A bundle of old letters tied with a blue ribbon lies on a round tray beneath a dried rose.

Original artwork, not a still

Groucho Marx

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

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The speaker brushes off any obligation to future generations by asking what they have ever done in return. It is a jokingly selfish argument: since posterity offers nothing now, the speaker sees no reason to sacrifice or plan on its behalf.

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