To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.
Benjamin FranklinRead
I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning.
Interpretation
Franklin advocates for starting each day in the assembly with prayer to seek divine guidance.
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin emphasizes the importance of seeking higher wisdom and guidance through prayer at the beginning of each assembly meeting. He suggests that recognizing a higher power can help inform and direct the deliberations, fostering a spirit of humility and collaboration among participants.
In practice
A politician might use this quote at a campaign rally to emphasize their commitment to faith in governance.
To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.
He'll cheat without scruple, who can without fear.
[E]very Man who comes among us, and takes up a piece of Land, becomes a Citizen, and by our Constitution has a Voice in Elections, and a share in the Government of the Country.
Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
Let honesty and industry be thy constant companions, and spend one penny less than thy clear gains; then shall thy pocket begin to thrive; creditors will not insult, nor want oppress, nor hungerness bite, nor nakedness freeze thee
I think that a young state, like a young virgin, should modestly stay at home, and wait the application of suitors for an alliance with her; and not run about offering her amity to all the world; and hazarding their refusal. Our virgin is a jolly one; and tho at present not very rich, will in time be a great fortune, and where she has a favorable predisposition, it seems to me well worth cultivating.
The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence.
Cynicism means the conduit to the soul has a great kink in it, like a garden hose in which nothing flows in either direction.
It was my first meeting with a philosophy that confirmed my vague speculations and seemed at once logical and boundless.
The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members
So, at one extreme you have indigenous, tribal societies trying to stem the race to disaster. At the other extreme, the richest, most powerful societies in world history, like the United States and Canada, are racing full-speed ahead to destroy the environment as quickly as possible.
Honor and shame from no condition rise. Act well your part: there all the honor lies.
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