"We pay for the mistakes of our ancestors, and it seems only fair that they should leave us the money to pay with"

This quote by Don Marquis speaks to the idea of generational duty. It suggests that the mistakes of our ancestors have repercussions that we should bear, which it is just fair that they ought to leave us the resources to do so. This might be translated in a variety of ways. It could describe the legacy of manifest destiny, slavery, and other forms of oppression that have actually left enduring effect on the lives of many people today. It might likewise refer to the environmental damage caused by our forefathers, and the requirement for us to spend for the effects of their actions. Eventually, this quote talks to the idea that we are accountable for the actions of our forefathers, and that it is just reasonable that they should leave us the resources to spend for the consequences of their errors.