May 21, 2026

After the positive feedback I received from readers on last week’s column on Ben Sasse, I further contemplated two of the themes that Mr. Sasse has been espousing: delayed gratification and humility (i.e., others above self). As I reflected on these themes, I realized they could be captured by the ancient Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,” that was popularized in the 1950’s by American author and theologian, D. Elton Trueblood.   The quote captures the willingness