I quote from memory:
"One day I was walking through a field in Selonika. There I saw an old man planting an almond tree. Now boss, this man looked as if he had a day or two at the most left to live. But there he was planting this almond tree. So I said, 'Old man why are you planting this almind tree?". He looked at me and said, "Sonny, I live as though I would never die". How about that boss. He lives as though he would never die. Me? I live as though I would die any minute. For that reason and only that reason I am free."
(Zorba The GreeK)