Franklin Did This, Franklin Did That

John Adams' prediction that Franklin would be remembered far better than himself, of course,came true. Franklin himself as a statesman, inventor, philosopher, chemist, humorist ambassador, herb doctor and wit will long be remembered. We see and use his aphorisms almost on a daily basis. His "Poor Richard's Almanac" was a huge success and at the time, almost every household had a copy of it.

Here are a few not so well known sayings of Ben's.

If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy reading,
Or do things worth the writing.

People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.

Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a folly.

There was never a good war or a bad peace.

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.
Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy [Nov. 13, 1789]

When Ben Franklin was 22 years old he wrote an epitaph that he imagined might appear on his grave marker.

The body of
B. Franklin, Printer
(Like the Cover of an Old Book
Its Contents torn Out
And Stript of its Lettering and Gilding)
Lies Here, Food for Worms.
But the Work shall not be Lost;
For it Will (as he Believ'd) Appear once More
In a New and More Elegant Edition
Revised and Corrected
By the Author