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Well done is better than well said.

Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1737

Philosophy

The story behind the card

The line appeared in the 1737 edition of Poor Richard's Almanack, which Benjamin Franklin published every year from 1732 to 1758 under the pen name 'Richard Saunders'. With sales of up to 10,000 copies a year, 'Poor Richard' became a household name in the American colonies. The saying suited its author. Franklin (1706–1790) left school at ten and became a scientist, inventor and diplomat, known for practical results: he showed that lightning is electricity and invented the lightning rod. English has a close cousin: 'Actions speak louder than words.'

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Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1737

Söz, Poor Richard's Almanack'ın (Zavallı Richard'ın Almanağı) 1737 baskısında yer alır. Benjamin Franklin bu almanağı 1732'den 1758'e kadar “Richard Saunders” takma adıyla her yıl yayımladı. Yılda 10.000'e varan satışıyla “Zavallı Richard”, Amerikan kolonilerinde herkesin tanıdığı bir ad oldu. Bu söz, yazarına da çok yakışır. Franklin (1706-1790) okulu on yaşında bıraktı, matbaacılık öğrendi; sonra bilim insanı, mucit ve diplomat oldu. Kuramlardan çok somut sonuçlarıyla tanındı: Yıldırımın elektrik olduğunu gösterdi ve paratoneri icat etti. Türkçede aynı düşünceyi “Lafla peynir gemisi yürümez” atasözü anlatır.

Sources and further reading

Background reading: Benjamin Franklin
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