Advice from Our 1st American to President Obama

Benjamin Franklin is the founder whom I have come to admire and respect the most. Given a choice between a truly historical Benjamin Franklin and our current President, my vote would go to the founder who earned it every day of his life. He was born on January 17, 1706 and died on April 17, 1790. It is reported that 20,000 people attended his funeral. He is often referred to as the 1^st American and the “harmonious human multitude”.

Compare and contrast Benjamin Franklin with the man whom we elected to this nation’s highest position of honor. Our President is but a shadow of the man every American supporter hoped he would be and this nation deserves. Each quotation listed below illustrates specific differences between the man who became this nation’s 1^st American and the man who became this nation’s latest President. It should be easy for you to recognize the differences between the two men. Our President has much to learn about this nation’s history, peoples, principles and values. Yet he consistently demonstrates that he cannot or will not do so. Let us hope and pray that the damages he has inflicted on this nation through his goal to change and remake America can yet be repaired. I believe his personal history, his unwillingness to consider that he is wrong and his war against America will prove to be his downfall and will ultimately crush his presidential legacy.

If I were to send a personal letter to President Obama offering him an opportunity to improve his personal legacy and help this nation to grow in his final two years, I would use Franklin quotations to lead him toward a clear understanding of what this nation’s peoples deserve from any man but especially the man whom they elected to be their leader of the free world.

The following quotations are from Benjamin Franklin’s Wit and Wisdom. Someone will, undoubtedly quibble that this one or that one was not the original work of Franklin. That could be true, but he gave them a flavor of his own.

Note: Each quotation was copied exactly as printed.  Quotation marks have been omitted.

None but the well-bred Man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in error.

There is much difference between imitating a good man, and counterfeiting him.

Where there is hunger, Law is not regarded; and where Law is not regarded, there will be hunger.

An empty bag cannot stand upright.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of Fools that have not wit enough to be honest.

Observe all men; thyself the most.

Wish not so much to live long, as to live well.

As pride increases, Fortune declines.

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy Vices.

Clean your Finger, before you point at my spots.

Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.

Duty is not beneficial because it is commanded, but is commanded because it is beneficial.

Those who are feared are hated.

Here comes Glib-Tongue: who can out flatter a dedication; and lie like ten Epitaphs.

A lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.

Wise Men learn by other’s harms; Fools by their own.

You may delay, but Time will not.

In Rivers and bad Governments, the lightest things swim at top.

The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better language than the unlearned but it is still Nonsense.

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

If you would reap Praise you must sow the Seeds, Gentle Words and useful Deeds.

Thou can’st not joke an Enemy into a friend, but thou may’st a Friend into an Enemy.

If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.

Great talkers should be cropped for they have no need of ears.

If you do what you should not you must hear what you would not.

He that scatters thorns let him go barefoot.

Meanness is the Parent of Insolence.

Cunning proceeds from Want of capacity.

You may be too cunning for one, but not for all.

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

You may give a Man an Office but you cannot give him Discretion.