Benjamin Franklin

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Some consider him to be one of the most notable high school dropouts in American history.
 

Whether Benjamin Franklin could be considered a high school drop out or not is questionable.   What is unquestionable is that Benjamin Franklin was one of America's greatest minds.

Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706.  He was christened in the original wooden Old South Meeting House across the street from his home.  The statue of Ben Franklin, above, marks the spot of the original Boston Latin School which he attended.  Unlike three other signers of the Declaration of Independence who attended Boston Latin School--Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine--Franklin did not graduate.  His father pulled him out of school to make candles to help support the family.

Benjamin Franklin was a self-taught man.  A printer, publisher, statesman, philosopher and inventor, he created the Franklin stove, the post office, bifocal lenses and wrote Poor Richard's Almanac. 

He wrote at least one of his sayings--one I consider a personal favorite--in a rebus.  Solved it reads: 

The Art of Making Money Plenty in Every Man's Pocket

"At this time when the general complaint is that money is so scarce it must be an act of kindness to inform the pennyless how they can reinforce their pockets.  I will acquaint all with the true secret of money catching, the certain way to fill empty pockets and how to keep them always full.  Two simple rules well observed will do the business.

1st.  Let honesty and labour be thy constant Companions.  2nd.  Spend one penny everyday less than thy clear gains;  Then shall thy pockets soon begin to thrive, thy creditors will never insult thee, nor want oppress, nor hunger bite, nor nakedness freeze thee; the whole hemisphere will shine brighter, and pleasure spring up to every corner of thy heart.

Now therefore embrace these rules and be Happy."   

Truer words were never written.