Pink Floyd sang about being in [their] system and "comfortably numb". If guess if you end up doing this benevolent stuff behind the scenes for decades you end up "silently smug" when it all comes together. Do the right thing, but nobody knows.
Very happy for a lot of good people who no doubt have worked endlessly with only a spiritual reward so far.
Martin you have perfectly described the higher calling. There always has been and always will be unseen protectors.