"One has children in the expectation of dying before them. In fact, you want to make damn sure you die before them, just as you plant a tree or build a house knowing, hoping that it will outlive you. That's how the human species has done as well as it has"

Christopher Hitchens is exploring the deep, often unspoken psychological motives behind parenthood and the drive to create or build things that last. The expectation, or even hope, that a parent will die before their children expresses a profound recognition of the natural order and the emotional realities of generational succession. Parents instinctively want to see their children grow up, thrive, and continue life beyond their own existence. The very idea of outliving one’s children is universally seen as catastrophic, a disruption of what is perceived as the right sequence of life.

When Hitchens draws parallels to planting a tree or building a house, he extends the idea of legacy and continuity. Planting a tree or constructing a home is not simply an act for current use or enjoyment; it is an investment in the future with the intention or hope that these creations will continue to serve new lives long after the originator is gone. It becomes not just about personal satisfaction, but about contributing something enduring to the world. This projection of one’s influence or care into the future is a fundamental part of human nature.

The closing statement connects these very personal motivations to the broader human story. The urge to ensure a future beyond our own lifespan isn’t merely sentimental; it is, for Hitchens, a critical reason why humanity has achieved as much as it has. Progress, civilization, and survival depend upon each generation’s willingness to invest in what they will not themselves fully enjoy, whether that is through raising children, building communities, preserving culture, or developing knowledge and technology. The combination of accepting our mortality and caring about what comes after is thus presented as not only a reassuring notion but also as the very engine of the species’ advancement and resilience.