Benjamin Franklin, Libertine?

In light of the holiday, I thought I'd write a few words about Benjamin Franklin, probably the most libertine of our Founding Fathers. He was, as other bloggers put it:

Thinker and leader, libertine and realist. In a word, urbane.

He rebelled against the true American conservatives of the day - the puritanical sects of the New England colonies - and sided with radicals to break free from England. Personally, he was something of a libertine and his belief in civil rights undergirded the Declaration of Independence. In his day, a belief and pursuit of science - as opposed to pure theology - was the very essence of liberalism.

Franklin was never legally married to his wife Deborah, but merely lived with her. The main reason for this was that she was already married to someone else. Though they had two children together, they spent much of their married life apart. Ben fathered at least one child, William Franklin, out of wedlock, who in turn did the same, as did his son. Obviously, monogamy was not a Franklin family trait. Throughout his life, he remained popular with women, having relationships with his landlady in England and dalliances with several French women while ambassador to France.

In his own words:

"Somebody, it seemed, gave it out that I loved ladies; and then everybody presented me their ladies (or the ladies presented themselves) to be embraced, that is to have their necks kissed." He went on to write, "The French ladies had a thousand other ways of rendering themselves agreeable by their various attentions and civilities, and their sensible conversation. Tis a delightful people to live with."

After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.

To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote.

Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.

If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.

And, what is perhaps his most well-known opinion about sex was his advice to a young man:

In all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. They are these:

1. Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.

2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.

3. Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.

4. Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclin’d to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.

5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.

6. Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.

7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.

8thly and Lastly They are so grateful!!