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← People and their mental models

Benjamin Franklin's mental models

3 claims Benjamin Franklin made fit 3 mental models. Most often: Power laws, Second-order thinking, Trade-offs. Everything they said here.

Models they name

Their own words name the idea.

Second-order thinking

Ask "and then what?": follow a decision past its first effect to the ones that come after.

Used by 86 others

Even successful wars eventually become misfortunes for those who unjustly started them

  1. Benjamin Franklin American printer, scientist and statesman (1706 to 1790) When will men be convinced that even successful wars at length become misfortunes to those who unjustly commenced them, and who triumphed blindly in their success, not seeing all its consequences. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org · 6 Feb 1780All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsWhen will men be convinced that even successful wars at length become misfortunes to those who unjustly commenced them, and who triumphed blindly in their success, not seeing all its consequences.

    ↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org

    6 Feb 1780

Models we see in what they say

Our reading: their claim applies the idea without naming it. The claim is theirs; filing it here is ours.

Power laws

In many things a few cases account for most of the result, so the average misleads and the outlier decides.

Used by 25 others

Writing that deeply impresses even one active mind in a hundred may have considerable effects

  1. Benjamin Franklin American printer, scientist and statesman (1706 to 1790) Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org · 12 May 1784All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsSuch writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable.

    ↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org

    12 May 1784

Trade-offs

Every choice gives something up, so name the cost; and check, because some trade-offs everyone assumes are not real.

Used by 60 others

Money spent on wars would have added vastly more to human comfort if spent on public works

  1. Benjamin Franklin American printer, scientist and statesman (1706 to 1790) What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org · 27 Jul 1783All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsWhat vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility.

    ↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org

    27 Jul 1783