Benjamin Franklin Quotes


I was never able to master the virtue of humility but I was able to master the appearance of humility.


Citations

Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, Governor of Pennsylvania, Member of the Continental Congress & the Constitutional Convention, Governor of Pennsylvania, President of the Pennsylvania Assembly, U.S. Minister to France, Postmaster General of the American Colonies, Quoted by Walter Isaacson, “Benjamin Franklin: An American Life”, C-SPAN, July 22, 2003

Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations

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Stimson had been a key member of the Theodore Roosevelt national administration, and Roosevelt, before he became Vice President and then President had been a very popular governor of NY. Stimson, although a brilliant administrator, and statesman was a bit stuffy and aloof and was a terrible campaigner. He thought it immodest to refer to himself in public or to talk about his record. So the Republicans tried to tie him to Roosevelt who was still very popular. See {589268}. It was not enough. Stimson lost.


Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
  • Born: January 17, 1706
  • Died: April 17, 1790
  • Nationality: American
  • Profession: Politician

Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A polymath, he was a leading writer, printer, political philosopher, politician, Freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He founded many civic organizations, including the Library Company, Philadelphia's first fire department, and the University of Pennsylvania.