Benjamin Franklin
American printer, scientist and statesman (1706 to 1790); served on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence; commissioner to France from 1776 to 1785.
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What they believe
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Writing that deeply impresses even one active mind in a hundred may have considerable effects
Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable.
gutenberg.orgSaid 12 May 1784This on korrents
The bold line is korrents’ wording; the quote is theirs. These one: what they wrote before what they said aloud, one per source, newest first.
Beliefs
Korrents What they believe 8 beliefs — each backed by an exact quote.
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Writing that deeply impresses even one active mind in a hundred may have considerable effects
Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 12 May 1784
There never was a good war or a bad peace
I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats: for, in my opinion, there never was a good war nor a bad peace.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 27 Jul 1783
Money spent on wars would have added vastly more to human comfort if spent on public works
What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 27 Jul 1783
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Science is advancing so fast that the power humans may gain over matter in a thousand years is impossible to imagine
The rapid progress true science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon: it is impossible to imagine the height to which may be carried, in a thousand years, the power of man over matter; we may perhaps learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity for the sake of easy transport.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 8 Feb 1780
Moral understanding is not improving as science is, and people should stop being wolves to one another
Oh! that moral science were in as fair a way of improvement; that men would cease to be wolves to one another; and that human beings would at length learn what they now improperly call humanity!
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 8 Feb 1780
Even successful wars eventually become misfortunes for those who unjustly started them
When will men be convinced that even successful wars at length become misfortunes to those who unjustly commenced them, and who triumphed blindly in their success, not seeing all its consequences.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 6 Feb 1780
Serving others is paying a debt, not conferring a favour
For my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 6 Jun 1753
Thanks and compliments, however often repeated, cannot discharge our real obligations to each other or to God
For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator.
Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition) Said 6 Jun 1753
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