Letter to Benjamin Vaughan, July 26, 1784
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin's stance challenges a common 18th-century perspective that charity and public aid inherently uplift the poor. He critiques the English Poor Laws, suggesting they sapped individual initiative by creating dependency. Franklin's broader life was a testament to self-reliance, rising from modest beginnings to become a leading figure in science and politics. His insight reflects a tension that persists in debates over welfare and personal responsibility.