“When Men are employ'd they are best contented.” “I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign an Office.” And this Mode, which I at first put on, with some violence to natural Inclination, became at length. The modest way in which I propos'd my Opinions, procur'd them a readier Reception and less Contradition I had less Mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevail'd with others to give up their Mistakes and join with me when I happene'd to be in the right. The Conversations I engag'd in went on more pleasantly. I soon found the Advantage of this Change in my Manners.

When another asserted something that I thought an Error, I denied myself the Pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some Absurdity in his Proposition and in answering I began by observing that in certain Cases or Circumstances his Opinion would be right, but that in the present case there *appear'd or seem'd* to me some Difference, etc. and I adopted instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine a thing to be so or so, or it appears to me at present. I even forbid myself, agreeable to the old Laws of our Junto, the Use of every Word or Expression in the Language that imported a fix'd Opinion such as certainly, undoubtedly, etc.

“I made it a Rule to forbear all direct Contradiction to the Sentiments of others, and all positive Assertion of my own. (Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography, 59-60) “the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man.” It feels like reading a neighbor's personal blog. Is so open, so unassuming, as to make one forget that we are being tutored by one of the greatest diplomats of all time. This book, though obviously an unfinished work from Franklin's life, is a gem.

The autobiography and other writings