“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
Mark Twain
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Well done is better than well said.
About this quote
Meaning
Franklin's point here is that words, promises, and plans carry far less weight than actual results. It is easy to speak well about what one intends to do, to explain ideas eloquently, or to reassure others with fine language. What truly earns respect and produces change, however, is the finished work itself. Execution, not articulation, is what moves things forward and demonstrates real character.
Context
This line appeared in Poor Richard's Almanack, a publication Franklin produced annually for many years in colonial America. The almanac was filled with practical proverbs aimed at ordinary readers, covering topics like thrift, industry, and good judgment. Franklin wrote under the persona of a fictional character named Richard Saunders, which gave him freedom to offer blunt, memorable advice. The saying reflects the almanac's general philosophy: that practical virtue and honest effort are the foundations of a good life.
About the author
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most versatile figures of eighteenth-century America, working at various times as a printer, writer, scientist, inventor, and statesman. He was largely self-educated and built his career through curiosity and relentless application. His work on electricity brought him international recognition, and his role in the founding of the United States gave him a permanent place in history. Franklin's writings consistently championed hard work and common sense, values that Poor Richard's Almanack distilled into short, punchy lines still quoted today.
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