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Quote#World

But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and…

Quote byBenjamin Franklin · 1706–1790

Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Epistles, Letter to unknown recipient (13 December 1757). The letter was published as early as 1817 (William Temple Franklin, The Works of Benjamin Franklin, volume VI, pp. 243-244). In 1833 William Wisner ("Don't Unchain the Tiger," American Tract Society, 1833) identified the recipient as probably.

English (original)

But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc'd and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual

— Benjamin Franklin

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