Benjamin Franklin just might be the most influential American who ever lived...more influential than George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy or Franklin Roosevelt, or even Einstein.
"Why Ben Franklin?," you might ask. After all, he is not even listed as one of the "20 most influential Americans of all Time" by Time Magazine. However, based on my own reading, I would propose that he may have done more to influence the future course of the U.S. than any other person.
Ben Franklin was an eighteenth-century Renaissance man, the "most accomplished man of his age." His monumental reputation preceded and accompanied him in all of Europe as well as the colonies. Here are some of his accomplishments:
1. He was an extremely hardworking and successful merchant, printer, newspaperman and publisher; and later on, postmaster general for the Crown, and then the colonies. As postmaster general, he made numerous improvements that cut average mail delivery times in half. Franklin also managed to mobilize reluctant Quakers and others for defense against Indian raids during the French and Indian wars.
2. Prior to the declaration of independence, Franklin's time as the most important representative in England saw him fight valiantly for peace with England. He tried to show that if the colonists were granted rights equal to those of Englishmen, peace could be made. He teased Britishers about their ignorance of America by writing witty, exaggerated stories.
3. As a skilled diplomat in many capacities and at different times, he was a polymath who spoke six languages and negotiated treaties with Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Spain and helped secure America's place in the world. His unprecedented international celebrity status, along with the corresponding admiration and goodwill that he had while in France undoubtedly secured its crucial help in winning the revolutionary war, despite the fact that France itself was ruled by a king. His influence on British public opinion resulted in low public support for the war against the colonists, and also resulted in later reforms in England that limited King George's power. His influence on France undoubtedly helped later fuel the French Revolution, and he was known and revered as a great scientist and diplomat throughout Europe. His "beyond rock star" status was further bolstered by his electric personality, and the plain, homespun, polite, witty and agreeable way in which he conducted himself at all times.
2. Prior to the declaration of independence, Franklin's time as the most important representative in England saw him fight valiantly for peace with England. He tried to show that if the colonists were granted rights equal to those of Englishmen, peace could be made. He teased Britishers about their ignorance of America by writing witty, exaggerated stories.
3. As a skilled diplomat in many capacities and at different times, he was a polymath who spoke six languages and negotiated treaties with Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and Spain and helped secure America's place in the world. His unprecedented international celebrity status, along with the corresponding admiration and goodwill that he had while in France undoubtedly secured its crucial help in winning the revolutionary war, despite the fact that France itself was ruled by a king. His influence on British public opinion resulted in low public support for the war against the colonists, and also resulted in later reforms in England that limited King George's power. His influence on France undoubtedly helped later fuel the French Revolution, and he was known and revered as a great scientist and diplomat throughout Europe. His "beyond rock star" status was further bolstered by his electric personality, and the plain, homespun, polite, witty and agreeable way in which he conducted himself at all times.
4. He was the first famous American writer, cartoonist, social commentator and humorist:
--As a social commentator, Franklin wrote various essays deploring slavery, the massacre of American Indians, unfair laws relating to women, and a vast number of articles on a wide array of other subjects. His last public act was to send to Congress a petition asking for the abolition of slavery and an end to the slave trade, having written several essays on the subject prior to this occasion. This was one of the very few initiatives in which he actually failed.
--As a humorist, Franklin was known for putting subtle jokes in many of his other papers that only the most astute would spot. He was so famous for this that, according to Ormand Seavey, editor of Oxford’s edition of Ben Franklin’s autobiography, when they were deciding who should write the Declaration of Independence, they partially chose Jefferson over the significantly more qualified and respected Franklin, as some feared Franklin would embed subtle humor and satire in it that wouldn't be recognized until it was too late to change. Knowing this document would likely be examined closely by the nations of the world at that time, they chose to avoid the issue by having the less gifted writer, Jefferson, write it instead, with Franklin and three others to help Jefferson draft it.
--Ben Franklin is perhaps best known for nearly 700 pithy sayings, aphorisms, astute observations and admonitions for self-improvement in his popular Almanack as well as in other writings. Here are just a few examples:
Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.
He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
One today is worth two tomorrows.
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.
Never confuse motion with action.
Fish and visitors smell after 3 days.
He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
One today is worth two tomorrows.
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.
Never confuse motion with action.
Fish and visitors smell after 3 days.
5. Ben Franklin was also the first American Scientist:
--He observed that prolonged exposure to lead would cause sickness (1768)
--He surmised that the common cold was passed from person to person through indoor air (1773)
--He observed that prolonged exposure to lead would cause sickness (1768)
--He surmised that the common cold was passed from person to person through indoor air (1773)
--He described and demonstrated electrical nature of lightning, and was first to use the words "positive" and "negative" to describe electricity (1747)
--He observed that storms can move in an opposite direction from the direction of the wind and proposed one of the first correct explanations for storm movement in the northern hemisphere (1743)
--He helped draw up and published a chart of the gulf stream with the help of his cousin, a whaling ship's captain. The British initially ignored it to their detriment, perhaps because they couldn't admit that colonial fishermen knew more about the ocean than did highly trained and experienced British mariners. (1768)
6. In addition, he was known for a number of practical inventions, all of which he refused to patent, instead wanting to share "freely and gladly:"
--lightning rod
--franklin stove
--improved street light
--glass armonica, a special type of musical instrument
--reaching device
--library chair
--3-wheel clock
--bifocal glasses
--flexible urinary catheter
--swim fins
--odometer
7. He established many social and governmental institutions that were "firsts"--an incredibly awesome testament to the power of his influence:
Franklin had written his own epitaph in 1728, which reappeared after his passing.
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 wholly lost; For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.
--lightning rod
--franklin stove
--improved street light
--glass armonica, a special type of musical instrument
--reaching device
--library chair
--3-wheel clock
--bifocal glasses
--flexible urinary catheter
--swim fins
--odometer
7. He established many social and governmental institutions that were "firsts"--an incredibly awesome testament to the power of his influence:
--America's first circulating library, The Library Company of Philadelphia (1731)
--America's first volunteer fire department, Union Fire Company (1736)
--America's first liberal arts academy, Pennsylvania Academy & College, now the University of Pennsylvania (1751)
--America's first public hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital (1751)
--America's first mutual insurance company, The Philadelphia Contributionship (1752)
--First to suggest the colonies join together in a federation, The Albany Plan (1754)
--Designed the first rate chart used by postmasters (1753)
--Proposed Daylight Savings Time (“An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light”)
--America's first volunteer fire department, Union Fire Company (1736)
--America's first liberal arts academy, Pennsylvania Academy & College, now the University of Pennsylvania (1751)
--America's first public hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital (1751)
--America's first mutual insurance company, The Philadelphia Contributionship (1752)
--First to suggest the colonies join together in a federation, The Albany Plan (1754)
--Designed the first rate chart used by postmasters (1753)
--Proposed Daylight Savings Time (“An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light”)
--Founded America's first learned society, the American Philosophical Society (1727)
--Established the practices of public street cleaning, street lighting and paving in Philadelphia
It's difficult to imagine any American who left a larger or more lasting imprint on American thought, society and government, not to mention his influence on the European world. 20,000 people attended his funeral--remarkable considering the entire population of Philadelphia was only 28,000. The Federal Gazette announced ...Died on Saturday night, in the 85th year of his age, the illustrious BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The world has been so long in possession of such extraordinary proofs of the singular abilities and virtues of this FRIEND OF MANKIND that it is impossible for a newspaper to increase his fame, or to convey. The French National Assembly went into mourning. He was able to restrain thunderbolts and tyrants, said Count Mirabeau.
--Established the practices of public street cleaning, street lighting and paving in Philadelphia
It's difficult to imagine any American who left a larger or more lasting imprint on American thought, society and government, not to mention his influence on the European world. 20,000 people attended his funeral--remarkable considering the entire population of Philadelphia was only 28,000. The Federal Gazette announced ...Died on Saturday night, in the 85th year of his age, the illustrious BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The world has been so long in possession of such extraordinary proofs of the singular abilities and virtues of this FRIEND OF MANKIND that it is impossible for a newspaper to increase his fame, or to convey. The French National Assembly went into mourning. He was able to restrain thunderbolts and tyrants, said Count Mirabeau.
Franklin had written his own epitaph in 1728, which reappeared after his passing.
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 wholly lost; For it will, as he believ’d, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.
So, how did Benjamin Franklin exert such great influence? I took some notes while reading his autobiography, and here are--I believe--his "secrets." If you want to learn from the very best, I believe Franklin is your "go-to" guy when it comes to exerting influence:
1. A good reputation is more influential than mere words, demeanor, or anything else, for that matter. Franklin's own life and his prodigious accomplishments are testament to the power of reputation; his was renowned on two continents. It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. And elsewhere, Well done is better than well said. And elsewhere (speaking of his own reputation as described by a petitioner), At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was no such thing as carrying a public-spirited project through without my being concern'd in it. "For," says he, "I am often ask'd by those to whom I propose subscribing, 'Have you consulted Franklin upon this business? And what does he think of it?' And when I tell them that I have not (supposing it rather out of your line), they do not subscribe, but say they will consider of it."
2. Realize you just might be your own worst enemy. Ben Franklin is famous for his self-reflection and his resulting scheme for gradually eliminating his vices one by one. Observe all men, thyself most. And elsewhere, Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices. And elsewhere, Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.
3. Don't use dogmatic words or phrases in your speech. Don't use words like "definitely, "always," "never," "absolutely," "obviously," etc.
Say, 'I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not mistaken.' And this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me. And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.
4. Speak with modesty, diffidence and humility, not cockiness. "To speak, tho' sure, with seeming diffidence. / For want of modesty is want of sense" (part of his quote is from Alexander Pope). And elsewhere, He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
5. Don't be close-minded. Items (3) and (4) will make it easier for you to be more open and willing to consider the opposite argument and to change your own mind when warranted: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.
6. Obtaining someone's good will is far more useful than winning an argument. You never really "win" an argument, you only create an adversary. Those disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory, sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them. And elsewhere, ...without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory... (listing the rules of engagement within his "Junto" club)
7. Convince others by making them think they have come to the conclusion themselves; and do not give them the impression that you think you know more than they do. Men should be taught as if you taught them not, and things unknown proposed as things forgot. (quoted from Alexander Pope)
8. Understand and appeal to what actually motivates your audience. If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
9. If you would attempt to push through a new initiative, never claim it as your own idea; otherwise it will only cause resentment and a lack of cooperation. The objections and reluctances I met with in soliciting the [library] subscriptions, made me soon feel the impropriety of presenting one's self as the proposer of any useful project, that might be suppos'd to raise one's reputation in the smallest degree above that of one's neighbours, when one has need of their assistance to accomplish that project. I therefore put myself as much as I could out of sight, and stated it as a scheme of a number of friends, who had requested me to go about and propose it to such as they thought lovers of reading. In this way my affair went on more smoothly, and I ever after practis'd it on such occasions; and, from my frequent successes, can heartily recommend it. The present little sacrifice of your vanity will afterwards be amply repaid. If it remains a while uncertain to whom the merit belongs, someone more vain than yourself will be encouraged to claim it, and then even envy will be disposed to do you justice by plucking those assumed feathers, and restoring them to their right owner.
10. Allow someone to do you a small kindness, and thank them heartily and graciously. People are naturally more disposed to those whom they've helped. (Franklin was a consummate networker.) I therefore did not like the opposition of this new member, who was a gentleman of fortune and education, with talents that were likely to give him, in time, great influence in the House, which, indeed, afterwards happened. I did not, however, aim at gaining his favour by paying any servile respect to him, but, after some time, took this other method. Having heard that he had in his library a certain very scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him, expressing my desire of perusing that book, and requesting he would do me the favour of lending it to me for a few days. He sent it immediately, and I return'd it in about a week with another note, expressing strongly my sense of the favour. When we next met in the House, he spoke to me (which he had never done before), and with great civility; and he ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all occasions, so that we became great friends, and our friendship continued to his death. This is another instance of the truth of an old maxim I had learned, which says, 'He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.' And it shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove, than to resent, return, and continue inimical proceedings.
11. Prepare. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
12. Often, what you avoid saying (despite being tempted) is at least as important as what you say. Don't stir the pot. Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
13. Speak and write with clarity and brevity. I have already made this paper too long, for which I must crave pardon, not having now time to make it shorter." And elsewhere, "He that speaks much, is much mistaken. And elsewhere, Speak little, do much.
14. Start with a core of support, then leverage this to your advantage; i.e., (when fundraising): I advise you to apply to all those whom you know will give something; next, to those whom you are uncertain whether they will give anything or not, and show them the list of those who have given; and, lastly, do not neglect those who you are sure will give nothing, for in some of them you may be mistaken.
15. Don't say something foolish in a moment of passion. Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one. And elsewhere, He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes a book.
16. Learn patience and persistence. Sometimes you have to first plant the seed and get people accustomed to an idea. He that can have patience can have what he will. And elsewhere, Energy and persistence conquer all things. And elsewhere (speaking of founding the first public hospital), Previously, however, to the solicitation, I endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people by writing on the subject in the newspapers, which was my usual custom in such cases...
17. Be well-read. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. And elsewhere, We [as a result of the "Junto" club and subscription library] are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every man among us reads, and is so easy in his circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement and for acquiring information.
18. Dress appropriately. Franklin himself dressed neatly, but avoided all ostentation. Eat to please thyself. Dress to please others.
19. View a crisis as a unique opportunity to push through needed change. Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forc'd by the occasion.
20. Take your present gains and losses in stride, not allowing yourself to be either discouraged or overconfident. And lastly, we learn by chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favorable change, and that of persevering in the search of resources. The game is so full of events, there is such a variety of turns in it, the fortune of it is so subject to sudden vicissitudes, and one so frequently, after long contemplation, discovers the means of extricating one's self from a supposed insurmountable difficulty, that one is encouraged to continue the contest to the last, in hopes of victory by our own skill, or, at least, of giving a stale mate, by the negligence of our adversary. And whoever considers, what in chess he often sees instances of, that particular pieces of success are apt to produce presumption, and its consequent, inattention, by which more is afterwards lost than was gained by the preceding advantage; while misfortunes produce more care and attention, by which the loss may be recovered, will learn not to be too much discouraged by the present success of his adversary, nor to despair of final good fortune, upon every little check he receives in the pursuit of it. And elsewhere, While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.
How to Exert Great Influence
(based on my notes from Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography & his other writings)
1. A good reputation is more influential than mere words, demeanor, or anything else, for that matter. Franklin's own life and his prodigious accomplishments are testament to the power of reputation; his was renowned on two continents. It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. And elsewhere, Well done is better than well said. And elsewhere (speaking of his own reputation as described by a petitioner), At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was no such thing as carrying a public-spirited project through without my being concern'd in it. "For," says he, "I am often ask'd by those to whom I propose subscribing, 'Have you consulted Franklin upon this business? And what does he think of it?' And when I tell them that I have not (supposing it rather out of your line), they do not subscribe, but say they will consider of it."
2. Realize you just might be your own worst enemy. Ben Franklin is famous for his self-reflection and his resulting scheme for gradually eliminating his vices one by one. Observe all men, thyself most. And elsewhere, Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices. And elsewhere, Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.
3. Don't use dogmatic words or phrases in your speech. Don't use words like "definitely, "always," "never," "absolutely," "obviously," etc.
Say, 'I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not mistaken.' And this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me. And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.
4. Speak with modesty, diffidence and humility, not cockiness. "To speak, tho' sure, with seeming diffidence. / For want of modesty is want of sense" (part of his quote is from Alexander Pope). And elsewhere, He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
5. Don't be close-minded. Items (3) and (4) will make it easier for you to be more open and willing to consider the opposite argument and to change your own mind when warranted: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.
6. Obtaining someone's good will is far more useful than winning an argument. You never really "win" an argument, you only create an adversary. Those disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory, sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them. And elsewhere, ...without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory... (listing the rules of engagement within his "Junto" club)
7. Convince others by making them think they have come to the conclusion themselves; and do not give them the impression that you think you know more than they do. Men should be taught as if you taught them not, and things unknown proposed as things forgot. (quoted from Alexander Pope)
8. Understand and appeal to what actually motivates your audience. If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
9. If you would attempt to push through a new initiative, never claim it as your own idea; otherwise it will only cause resentment and a lack of cooperation. The objections and reluctances I met with in soliciting the [library] subscriptions, made me soon feel the impropriety of presenting one's self as the proposer of any useful project, that might be suppos'd to raise one's reputation in the smallest degree above that of one's neighbours, when one has need of their assistance to accomplish that project. I therefore put myself as much as I could out of sight, and stated it as a scheme of a number of friends, who had requested me to go about and propose it to such as they thought lovers of reading. In this way my affair went on more smoothly, and I ever after practis'd it on such occasions; and, from my frequent successes, can heartily recommend it. The present little sacrifice of your vanity will afterwards be amply repaid. If it remains a while uncertain to whom the merit belongs, someone more vain than yourself will be encouraged to claim it, and then even envy will be disposed to do you justice by plucking those assumed feathers, and restoring them to their right owner.
10. Allow someone to do you a small kindness, and thank them heartily and graciously. People are naturally more disposed to those whom they've helped. (Franklin was a consummate networker.) I therefore did not like the opposition of this new member, who was a gentleman of fortune and education, with talents that were likely to give him, in time, great influence in the House, which, indeed, afterwards happened. I did not, however, aim at gaining his favour by paying any servile respect to him, but, after some time, took this other method. Having heard that he had in his library a certain very scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him, expressing my desire of perusing that book, and requesting he would do me the favour of lending it to me for a few days. He sent it immediately, and I return'd it in about a week with another note, expressing strongly my sense of the favour. When we next met in the House, he spoke to me (which he had never done before), and with great civility; and he ever after manifested a readiness to serve me on all occasions, so that we became great friends, and our friendship continued to his death. This is another instance of the truth of an old maxim I had learned, which says, 'He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.' And it shows how much more profitable it is prudently to remove, than to resent, return, and continue inimical proceedings.
11. Prepare. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
12. Often, what you avoid saying (despite being tempted) is at least as important as what you say. Don't stir the pot. Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
13. Speak and write with clarity and brevity. I have already made this paper too long, for which I must crave pardon, not having now time to make it shorter." And elsewhere, "He that speaks much, is much mistaken. And elsewhere, Speak little, do much.
14. Start with a core of support, then leverage this to your advantage; i.e., (when fundraising): I advise you to apply to all those whom you know will give something; next, to those whom you are uncertain whether they will give anything or not, and show them the list of those who have given; and, lastly, do not neglect those who you are sure will give nothing, for in some of them you may be mistaken.
15. Don't say something foolish in a moment of passion. Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one. And elsewhere, He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes a book.
16. Learn patience and persistence. Sometimes you have to first plant the seed and get people accustomed to an idea. He that can have patience can have what he will. And elsewhere, Energy and persistence conquer all things. And elsewhere (speaking of founding the first public hospital), Previously, however, to the solicitation, I endeavoured to prepare the minds of the people by writing on the subject in the newspapers, which was my usual custom in such cases...
17. Be well-read. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. And elsewhere, We [as a result of the "Junto" club and subscription library] are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every man among us reads, and is so easy in his circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement and for acquiring information.
18. Dress appropriately. Franklin himself dressed neatly, but avoided all ostentation. Eat to please thyself. Dress to please others.
19. View a crisis as a unique opportunity to push through needed change. Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forc'd by the occasion.
20. Take your present gains and losses in stride, not allowing yourself to be either discouraged or overconfident. And lastly, we learn by chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favorable change, and that of persevering in the search of resources. The game is so full of events, there is such a variety of turns in it, the fortune of it is so subject to sudden vicissitudes, and one so frequently, after long contemplation, discovers the means of extricating one's self from a supposed insurmountable difficulty, that one is encouraged to continue the contest to the last, in hopes of victory by our own skill, or, at least, of giving a stale mate, by the negligence of our adversary. And whoever considers, what in chess he often sees instances of, that particular pieces of success are apt to produce presumption, and its consequent, inattention, by which more is afterwards lost than was gained by the preceding advantage; while misfortunes produce more care and attention, by which the loss may be recovered, will learn not to be too much discouraged by the present success of his adversary, nor to despair of final good fortune, upon every little check he receives in the pursuit of it. And elsewhere, While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.
No comments:
Post a Comment