For all our Benjamin Franklin fans out there

“Never confuse motion with action”

By Will Collette

One of Progressive Charlestown’s most avid readers is also a HUGE fan of Benjamin Franklin. So much so that he attributes quotes to Franklin that actually belong to other great thinkers.

For example, our reader thinks it was Franklin who said “better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”

That quote actually belongs to Abraham Lincoln, though he took it from King Solomon’s words from the book of Proverbs. Many other people, including Mark Twain, also used almost the same words.

The closest version of the idea that comes from Ben Franklin’s writing is this: “Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly.” Same sentiments, but sorry, Dear Reader, it doesn’t come close enough to give Franklin even partial claim on the Lincoln quote.

But here’s a consolation prize. I found two quotes that struck me as very wise indeed:

• “A Quarrelsome man has no good neighbors.” 

• “He that sows thorns, should never go barefoot.”

 Add that to the list of Franklin truisms along with “Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.”