Happy 300th Birthday, Benjamin Franklin!!

Famous American patriot, statesman, philosopher and inventor Benjamin Franklin was born on this date (January 17) in 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts. Here is a brief synopsis of his accomplishments, as published at Who2.com:

Franklin is perhaps the single most multi-talented figure in American history. His accomplishments are too varied to fully describe here; they include signing the Declaration of Independence, publishing the famous Poor Richard's Almanac, serving as postmaster of Philadelphia, founding the first American fire insurance company, living in Paris as American ambassador to France, and inventing useful objects like the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, and bifocal glasses.

Franklin was a man whose insightful wisdom would be quite useful in the present day. Who knows what he would have thought of the Internet and blogging. As a publisher, no doubt, he would have been utterly fascinated by it.

In honor of the 300th anniversary of Ben Franklin's birth, let's reflect on just a few of his many wonderful quotes as we reside here in the year 2006:

-Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

-Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of.

-For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.

-Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

-Honesty is the best policy.

-In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

-One today is worth two tomorrows.

-The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

-The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.

-There was never a good war, or a bad peace.

So let's all lift an ale's mug in remembrance of a truly great American. Cheers, Ben Franklin! And happy birthday, too!