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Article: `Benjamin Franklin: An American Life,' by Walter Isaacson; Simon & Schuster.(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- July 16, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Ernst-Ulrich Franzen
In 1757, on a visit to England, Benjamin Franklin's ship narrowly escaped shipwreck. "Were I a Roman Catholic," he joked to his wife, "perhaps I should on this occasion vow to build a chapel to some saint; but as I am not, if I were to vow at all, it should be to build a lighthouse."
The practicality of that sentiment was the essence of the man: He wanted to build things that worked.
The same was true in politics. When Thomas Jefferson started his famous declaration with the words, "We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable," Franklin edited it to "We hold these truths to be self-evident," turning the phrase ...