“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”

American polymath, 18th century

Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath of the 18th century, active as a physicist, philosopher, statesman, and inventor. He is remembered as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He helped draft and sign the Declaration of Independence and later served as the first postmaster general. His work spanned science, public life, and practical invention, placing him among the most versatile figures of his era.