And the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men…. The sacred texts declared that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”
Benjamin Franklin
God Governs
Topic: Justice, Vision, & Leadership
“Our prayers were heard, sir, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed the frequent instances of a superintending Providence in our favor…. And the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? The sacred texts declared that “except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this.”
Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSE (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790) was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He founded many civic organizations, including Philadelphia's fire department and the University of Pennsylvania.
Constitutional Convention 1787
Brands, H. W. The First American: the Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. Anchor Books, 2002, p. 678 [Benjamin Franklin, Constitutional Convention 1787].
Benjamin Franklin
Theme: A Vision of America
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Benjamin Franklin, Constitutional Convention 1787
“I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this Truth — That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, — and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages.
— Benjamin Franklin [Speech to the Constitutional Convention (28 June 1787); Manuscript notes by Franklin preserved in the Library of Congress].
“I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.”
— Benjamin Franklin [Speech in the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (September 17, 1787); reported in James Madison, Journal of the Federal Convention, ed. E. H. Scott (1893)] p. 741.
“In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.”
— Benjamin Franklin [Speech to the Constitutional Convention (September 17, 1787); reported in James Madison, Journal of the Federal Convention, ed. E. H. Scott (1893)] p. 742.
At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a lady asked Franklin: “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”. Franklin replied: “A Republic, if you can keep it.”
— Benjamin Franklin [From a note by Dr. James McHenry. In a footnote he added that “The lady here alluded to was Mrs. Powel of Philada.” Published in The American Historical Review, v. 11] p. 618.