> A burning question in my mind: how does one get motivated to work on something that they'll probably not even live to see come to fruition/failure? Personally

> A burning question in my mind: how does one get motivated to work on something that they'll probably not even live to see come to fruition/failure? Personally, I wouldn't be, unless if there was some pay involved. "The wise man plants a tree whose shade only his grandchildren will enjoy." Some humans are capable of great compassion for the people who will come after us. That is the impetus to create a better world for our children's children (even those of us who don't even have children). Compassion. Concern for the well-being of the people who will inherit the world when we are gone. Empathy combined with a sense of duty. Some people have those qualities innately. Many people don't.