Benjamin Franklin's powerful quote of the day: 'Never ruin an apology with an...' - American polymath's inspiring life lesson on remorse and accountability

Quote of the day by Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin is one of the most identifiable people in American history, yet he was involved in many other things besides politics. Franklin, an American polymath, was a printer, writer, inventor, scientist and diplomat who played a major role in the American Revolution. The main thing that makes Franklin special in the modern world is the applicability of his ideas in the field of common problems faced by people in their lives on a regular basis. Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He grew up in a big family and got very little education at school. Most of the knowledge he got through reading, working and self-studying. This way of getting knowledge became the characteristic of Franklin's personality. Later Franklin moved to Philadelphia where he succeeded in the printing business. His famous creation called 'Poor Richard's Almanack' gained fame due to the practical advice, humorous remarks and sayings about money, work and time management.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: A CURIOUS MIND THAT NEVER STOPPED LEARNING

Franklin had a rare talent of transforming his curiosity into actions. He conducted experiments on electricity and went on to become one of the most famous scientists of his time. His experiments played an important role in advancing the knowledge on electricity, and his invention of the lightning rod provided a method for protecting buildings against lightning storms. Additionally, he played a key role in setting up several institutions in Philadelphia, which included a library, a fire company, and what later came to be known as the University of Pennsylvania.


QUOTE OF THE DAY

Quote of the day - "Never ruin an apology with an excuse," is widely attributed to celebrated writer, inventor, scientist and diplomat Benjamin Franklin.

MEANING OF THE QUOTE

Benjamin Franklin's quote of the day sheds light on the significance of personal responsibility. When you upset someone, an apology loses its meaning when you add explanations to justify your behavior right after it. You are supposed to apologize to make the one you upset feel understood and accept the fact that you are responsible for it. Imagine you have let your friend down by canceling plans at the very last moment. Apologizing by saying, 'I'm sorry I let you down', shows that you realize the consequences of your behavior. But when you say, 'I'm sorry, but I was too busy', your apology sounds more like an excuse than anything else. This doesn't mean that Franklin says we should never explain our actions. On the contrary, your sincere apology shouldn't be mixed up with anything else and your apologies should precede your explanations. There may be times when your apology will do a better job than any explanation.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: MORE THAN A FOUNDING FATHER

Franklin had a very significant role to play in the formation of America. He was a part of the group of five people who worked together on writing the 'Declaration of Independence'. Later, he served as a diplomat in France. The diplomacy of Franklin proved very important for America during the revolution period. He provided French help to America in its battle against the British. However, Franklin's contribution does not only remain in history. His writing gives us insight into the man who had great interest in self-improvement.

WHY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN'S LESSONS STILL MATTER

Franklin often focused on ideas that are still pertinent today: manage your time efficiently, never stop studying and taking responsibility for your actions and not allowing instant gratification to cloud future plans. Perhaps that is why his sayings have been surviving to this day in books, speeches and on social media.

The life of Franklin was not flawless, and he certainly did not have all the answers. However, his ability to learn, to experiment and adapt can be applied even in contemporary society. One does not need to be a scientist, a politician or an inventor in order to follow Franklin's example. Sometimes, what matters is just being willing to do so.