The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

The saying frames a meaningful life as fundamentally intergenerational: our highest purpose is not immediate gratification but creating conditions in which others can flourish. “Plant trees” evokes slow, patient work whose benefits arrive long after the labor is done, while “shade you do not expect to sit” underscores selflessness and humility—acting without the expectation of personal reward or recognition. The line also implies stewardship: we inherit a world shaped by predecessors and are responsible for leaving it more habitable, whether through institutions, relationships, knowledge, or environmental care. Its moral force lies in redefining success as legacy and contribution rather than consumption.