Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706, but he is identified with Philadelphia. While he ran a press, he also formed Pennsylvania’s first anti-slavery society, served as postmaster and conducted the lightening experiment. Although he spent time in London as a colonial agent, he was one of America’s key Founding Fathers. By 1754 Franklin was already working on a plan of union. He served on the Second Continental Congress, was a member of the committee which drew up the Declaration of Independence, helped bring France into the Revolutionary War and was a member of the Constitutional Convention.
1. You had quite the life.
I should have no objection to go over the same life from its beginning to the end: requesting only the advantage authors have, of correcting in a second edition the faults of the first.
2. Being there at the Declaration and at the adoption of the Constitution, what do you think now?
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.
3. There remains some debate over the Constitution, though. People offer different interpretations.
When you assemble a number of men, to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? I confess that I do not entirely approve of this Constitution at present; but, sir, I am not sure I shall never approve of it, 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. Most men, indeed, as well as most sects in religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them, it is so far error. I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such, because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well-administered.
4. What about the people who insist they won’t follow a law they disagree with?
I can not help expressing a wish that every[one] … who may still have objections to it, would, with me, on this occasion, doubt a little of his own infallibility.
5. In California we had a recent battle over mandatory vaccinations.
In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.
6. Have you followed to controversy over Donald Trump?
He that speaks much, is much mistaken. The worst wheel of a cart makes the most noise. 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.
7. Most early candidates know they can’t win. Why do they run? Is it pride?
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
8. People say the Founding Fathers were all Christian.
I have … some Doubts as to his [Jesus’] divinity; tho’ it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and I think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an Opportunity of knowing the Truth with less Trouble.
9. What was work like in the 1700s?
My companion at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner, a pint in the afternoon about six o’clock, and another when he had done his day’s work.
10. Wait — are you wearing an Apple Watch?
Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.
Note: The actual words of Benjamin Franklin have clearly been taken out of context to create this piece.
