It is a little-known secret that Benjamin Franklin was a rabid Tweeter. Lacking youth and a Persian lover, the older Poor Richard grew frustrated with a Congress that was apparently non-responsive to his letters.
Realizing the short attention span of this “limited publick,” he began posting messages of 140 characters or less – (including spaces, no fair!) – on doors of the influential colonists. “What we know for sure,” said historian Stu Pid Man, “is that Congress and President Washington seemed to disregard Franklin’s tweets concerning debt control and finance.” This is evident as the United States of America is still paying on debt from the Revolutionary War.”
Admonishments like, “Honesty is the best policy” and “Never confuse motion with action” insulted certain influential members of Congress. Suggesting that Franklin needed shock therapy, one anonymous colonial aristocrat tweeted, “Old Ben should play with electricity.”
Other likely ignored admonishments include:
- The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
- A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.
- A penny saved is a penny earned.
- Applause waits on success.
- Creditors have better memories than debtors.
- Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt.
- The constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.
- Those that won’t be counseled can’t be helped.
- The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion.
- Well done is better than well said.
- When in doubt, don’t.
More quotes from Franklin can be found at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/benjamin_franklin_9.html#7c07FLVxYdHBoZV0.99
