Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Benjamin Franklin - on individual achievement and helping create a better world I recently finished reading Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson. It's well written. The author includes a fair amount about Franklin's imperfections, and also shows there's much to admire. Franklin proved that one individual can help change the world with hard work and an open mind. Franklin's ideas and inventions continue to benefit us today. He was influenced by the colonial Puritan's work ethic, but he pioneered separating its other-worldliness from the value of work. He practiced this is in his own life, and communicated it eloquently in his writings. He preferred working hard to benefit others in this world, considering that the best way we can serve God. Franklin's practical work ethic had great influence on the self-help movement. His preference for creating our own destiny over inherited wealth and power helped form the best of America's character and culture. He made valuable advances in electricity, pioneered more efficient heating, invented bifocals and more. He played a crucial role in four key challenges his country faced: the Declaration of Independence, forging an alliance with France that helped us to win the Revolutionary War, negotiating peace with England, and in advocating the compromises that enabled our Constitution to bring a lasting democracy. Here are some Franklin quotes that I particularly like: On the need to keep
learning, changing and thinking things through When you're finished changing, you're finished. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Actions speak louder than
words He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning. How to relate to others If you would be loved, love, and be loveable. Do good to your friends to keep them, to your enemies to win them. To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness. The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity. He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged. How to succeed Energy and persistence conquer all things. Lost time is never found again. If you have something to do tomorrow, do it today. Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality. On wealth and money Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one. Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. Religion Serving God is doing good to man, but praying is thought an easier service and therefore more generally chosen. Many have quarreled about religion that never practiced it. Additional good advice Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise Miscellaneous humor An autobiography usually reveals nothing bad about its writer except his memory. Here's More Franklin Quotes. And our own website has many Inspiring Quotes and Ideas from many wise sources. Your power Help End Global Hunger and Poverty Join us today! Together, we can change the world. Comments and Questions: greatchange@gmail.com Top of Page
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