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To the haranguers of the populace among the ancients, succeed among the moderns your writers of political pamphlets and news-papers, and your coffee-house talkers.
Benjamin Franklin
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Franklin emphasizes the role of writers and public speakers in shaping public opinion, paralleling ancient orators with modern communicators.

In this quote, Benjamin Franklin draws a connection between the influential role of ancient speakers who stirred public sentiment and the modern-day equivalents, such as pamphleteers and journalists. He implies that just as ancient haranguers shaped the views of their audiences, today's writers and conversationalists in public spaces continue to wield significant power in influencing the populace's political opinions and social discourse.

Themes

InfluenceCommunicationPublic OpinionPoliticsWritingDialogue

In practice

Example use cases

During a public debate about free speech, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of writers and speakers.

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To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.
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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.
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