Guest guest Posted June 14, 2000 Report Share Posted June 14, 2000 __________GREAT LIFE LESSONS ______________________________ Inspiration and Wisdom from the Lives of Great People Without a Word (Benjamin Franklin) Just a few days after his 68th birthday, Benjamin Franklin received a cordial summons to appear before the Privy Council in London. Franklin, Massachusetts' London representative, came expecting to discuss the replacement of the colony's royal governor. But instead, Franklin got a barrage of undeserved abuse. The notoriously obnoxious Solicitor General Alexander Wetterbern "took the occasion to excoriate, vilify and humiliate Franklin....The berating of Franklin went on for an hour, and Franklin stood there silently and took it all." Wetterbern branded Franklin a common thief, to the laughs, scoffs, and applause of the assembly. "When it was over, Franklin calmly and gravely left the room without a word."(1) Benjamin Franklin was a man never at a loss for words. But in this case, Franklin understood that more words would only fan the fire. His constraint and self-control should be a lesson to us all. (1)Narration from A&E Biography's Benjamin Franklin: Citizen of the World. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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