Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the greatest practical philosopher
that America has ever produced. His many sayings from Poor
Richard's Alamanac are still widely quoted and followed: "A penny
earned is a penny saved"; "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a
man healthy, wealthy, and wise" and so forth. Franklin was
America's representative to France during the revolutionary war.
Being involved in politics meant that many lesser men of great
ambition were jealous of Franklin and publicly attacked him.
Franklin's great character seldom let him respond to character
assassination. Talking ill of others was beneath him.

Franklin went from colonial America to France in 1776 at the age
of 70. With his age, he suffered from various maladies, such as
boils, psoriasis (skin disease) and a huge kidney stone. Yet he
always remained cheerful. When he was too disabled to leave his
apartment, he would occupy himself creatively, writing letters,
essays, or small satires. His grandson remarked that he realized
that his grandfather was different than other old people. While
most people Franklin's age stayed shut in and were obsessed with
their physical decline, Franklin appeared jubilant and was
fascinated with life, just like a young person.

Franklin once stated that people could be divided into two
categories. One type of person complained about their
circumstances, and the other were always grateful for whatever
life brought them. Franklin was in the latter category, and
perhaps this is what sets him apart from other men of the era. He
noted that success tended to make people more dull and complacent,
while adversity tended to make their minds more active and
intelligence.