The line; “beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” is often attributed to Ben Franklin. While it is true that Franklin did indulge in beer every now-and-again, he was something closer to a tea-totaler. Some less known Franklin lines about beer, and alcohol in general, can be found at beerinfood.com. Some examples are:
* “Never spare the Parson’s wine, nor the Baker’s pudding.” * “Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.” * “Women and wine, game and deceit, make the wealth small and the wants great.” * “Be temperate in Wine, in eating, Girls, and Sloth, or the Gout will seize you and plague you both.” Even rum gets a mention: * “He that spills the Rum, loses that only; He that drinks it, often loses both that and himself.”
Franklin’s autobiography even goes deeply into detail about several friends who developed drinking habits to their eventual ruin. A particularly funny story tells of how a close friend became an obstinate drunk, and refused his turn to row a boat containing Franklin and a few others. Franklin admonished him and said if he would not row then they would sit there all night. The friend was angered and attacked Franklin…who duly threw the friend overboard. Franklin also famously listed “temperance” as his first virtue, the one to be conquered before all others. Franklin’s logic was that he would never have full enough control of his mind, unless he abstained from drinking to excess. Thus, to be your best, follow Franklin’s true advice, and stay away from the sauce. For more information about drug and alcohol treatment, please visit The Right Step today!
