After Writing This Post, I Time Traveled, Returning to the Days of My Youth, And Someone Forced Me to Read It
When you get to be my age, you realize how much easier your life would have been if you had known sooner what you know now. The thing is, it has all been written, more than once, by many individuals. We don’t listen to advice from dead people, parents, or teachers. History may be force-read, but the knowledge is rarely applied. Why?
Ask Billy Joel. (Gen Z, google him.) “I don’t care what you say anymore; this is my life. Go ahead with your own life; leave me alone.”
Listen up Gen Z, Someone needs to do for Benjamin Franklin was done for Hamilton. Yes, make him a rap musical.
He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, (Gen Z, google bifocals.) swim fins, a stove that was safer and warmer than others of that time.
Did you know the $100 bill is the highest denomination issued today? Guess whose face is on the $100 bill. (If you haven’t seen one of those, you may be Gen Z.) Do not lament that, because there is a Benjamin Franklin quote for it.
So here I begin:
1. “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.”
The lesson, the rich are miserable and greedy.
2. “Fish and visitors stink after three days.”
The rule of three applies in all things: do not exceed three, when spawning crotch goblins, (non-offensive Halloween reference.) adopt (no more than) three dogs at a time, note there are three examples to prove this a point.
3. “If you’d lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money.”
If you want someone to go away, lend them money. (But who has money?)
4. “Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.”
(Gen Z, this will probably never be advice you can use.)
5. “20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment.”
Will, wit, and judgement qualities by age. I am stuck in my 30s. Not a bad cage. ~Not really, but sometimes I speak in rhymes.
6. “Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.”
Hark, ye of Generation Z, attend closely, for in days of yore, men sought the barbers for a smooth blade’s shearing.
7. “Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.”
I am wealthy because I want no more shit, is the lesson
8. “Half wits talk much but say a little.”
I will not add to that, because I’m not stupid..
9. “Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.”
9.5. “Eat to live; live not to eat.”
Did Benj have an eating disorder?
10. “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you’re dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing.”
This is my favorite. This is a writing motivator. Finish the damn book.
11. “Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”
I have always said this and have been told it’s a very negative and depressing attitude. 🖕🏼
12. “A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.”
Mae West (Gen Z, just google her she was sexy on black and white film) said “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Same idea.