Benjamin Franklin's Aphorism Analysis

Benjamin Franklin once said “If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun”. Franklin had created an aphorism. Webster’s dictionary defines an aphorism as “a short phrase that expresses a true or wise idea” (Aphorism). Franklin modified most of his aphorisms to correspond with traditional or folk sayings, known as proverbs. This aphorism is parallel to a Russian proverb that instructs, “One who sits between two chairs may easily fall down”. What do these proverbs mean? How are they similar? Why do different cultures preserve similar kinds of wisdom? All of these questions can be answered by first knowing who Benjamin Franklin was, and understanding how these aphorisms reflect the time period in which they were created in. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was number ten, out of fifteen children. At the age of twelve, he was apprenticed to his brother, a printer. At an early age, Franklin loved to read, write and learn. The Norton Anthology of American Literature describes Franklin’s personality the best. On page 456, the book reads “Franklin had an uncanny instinct for success and knew that the new commercialism demanded that anyone in business assume a public persona that best severed his and his clients’ interests, even if it masked one’s true self” (Benjamin Franklin). A few lines down, on
These aphorisms have a parallel meaning of knowing one’s limitations and choices. Even though Benjamin Franklin’s culture and the Russian culture were very distinct from each other, they both had similar thoughts on wisdom because humans see wisdom as essentially divine. One must know who Benjamin Franklin was, and understand how the aphorisms reflect the time period in which they were written in. This will allow one to fully understand the true meaning of the