Benjamin Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin took pride in almost every aspect of his life. There are many instances in which one could call him a vain man. Franklin writes to Ezra Stiles and speaks of his portrait being hung at Yale. Franklin complains that the portraits he has of himself do his stunning features no justice, and are certainly not worthy to be hung at Yale. He suggests that a new portrait be painted. Franklin clearly has issues as to how he will be remembered, and also how obsessed the man is with his looks. He writes, “I do not think any one of the portraits you mention, as in my possession, worthy of the place and company you propose to place it in. You have an excellent artist lately arrived. If he will undertake to make one for you, I shall cheerfully pay the expense.” This vanity of Franklins is presented in his “Apology for Printers” as well. He argues that printers print silly things not worth reading not because they want to, but because people are uneducated and like to read mindless garbage. Franklin, in his mind, has set himself on a higher pedestal than the everyday man. He has a better education therefore he is a better person. He writes, “They sometimes print vicious or silly things not worth reading, it may not be because they approve such things themselves, but because the people are so viciously and corruptly educated that good things are not encouraged.” Franklin also presents a vain attitude toward religion. He goes as far in his letter to Ezra Stiles as to indicate Jesus Christ as merely a good philosopher, and he himself does not care to take the time that religion requires. He believes that he will find the truth for himself. The man put himself above others intelligence and beliefs and disregarded them as distractions and wastes of time for him. He says, “I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; tho it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble.” Franklin clearly displays his vanity throughout his writings.
Benjamin Franklin often used his own sarcastic sense of humor to win over his audience. An example is Franklins “Apology for Printers,”