“Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 26:12
He was widely known for his many accomplishments as an inventor, a statesman, and a writer. However, as he grew older, he became increasingly proud of himself and his abilities.
One day he was invited to attend a prestigious gathering of intellectuals, where he was asked to give a speech about his many contributions to society. As he took the stage, he began to speak about his remarkable achievements, emphasizing his own intelligence and innovation. But as he continued to speak, he noticed that the audience was growing bored and restless. People began to whisper and shuffle in their seats, clearly unimpressed with his overbearing ego.
Suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence, realizing how foolish he had been to boast so much about himself. He began to speak from the heart, expressing his gratitude for the support of friends and colleagues who had helped him achieve his goals. He humbly acknowledged that he could not have done it alone.
As he finished his speech, he received a standing ovation from the audience. He had learned a valuable lesson about the danger of pride and the importance of humility. From that day on, Benjamin Franklin made a conscious effort to be more modest and to recognize the contributions of others.
“In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.” – Benjamin Franklin
Former Blackout Artist 