Benjamin Franklin - Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing
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Welcome to The Daily Quote—a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I’m your host, Andrew McGivern, for December 7th.
Now, it’s National Letter Writing Day, a celebration of the lost art of writing letters. You know, letters—the prehistoric emails that required a stamp, an envelope, and sometimes, suspiciously neat handwriting if you were trying to impress someone. In today’s world of emojis and three-second voice memos, writing a letter is practically a superpower.
To match the day, I’ve picked a quote from one of the greats of communication: Benjamin Franklin. He once said:
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
Ben knew what was up. This quote is essentially the 18th-century version of “Make it count.” Letter writing, at its core, is about making your words matter, whether you’re penning a heartfelt note or just trying to explain to your teacher why your homework is late—again.
Franklin’s advice is a reminder that the effort we put into writing can create lasting impact. Think about it—letters have toppled empires, started love affairs, and kept soldiers connected to home. Meanwhile, today’s digital equivalent is typing “LOL” at the end of a text to soften the blow of sarcasm.
Let’s be honest—writing something worth reading doesn’t have to mean it’s Shakespearean. It just has to be real. A simple “Thank you” can change someone’s day. A well-written apology can mend fences (or at least get you invited back to Thanksgiving). And a love letter?
History has proven that they work too.
So today, let Franklin inspire you to dust off that pen and get writing. Send a note to someone you care about. Maybe remind your parents you exist. Write to a friend who might need a laugh. Heck, write to a politician if you’re feeling fiery. And if you’re still nervous about putting pen to paper, remember this: even Ben Franklin had typos—they just called them “artistic flourishes” back then.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me on The Daily Quote. I hope you feel inspired to make your words count, one letter at a time.
I'll back once again - tomorrow with another Daily Quote.