“Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion.”

A polymath and Founding Father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin’s career spanned politics, science, and publishing. He is best known for his contributions to early American democracy, including the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, as well as his pioneering work in electricity and his influential writings on self-improvement. His wit and practical philosophy remain widely influential today.