Patience is a virtue, or so goes the common proverbial phrase. Benjamin Franklin echoed this sentiment in his highly popular yearly publication “Poor Richard's Almanack,” advising that “he that can have patience can have what he will.” But considering Franklin’s multitude of accomplishments, it's surprising he had any time for patience at all. He was a polymath, skilled and knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects, and one of the greatest intellectuals of his day. He was a successful writer, statesman, scientist, diplomat, printer, and political philosopher. He invented the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, bifocal glasses, and the flexible urinary catheter. And as if that weren’t enough, he was also one of America’s Founding Fathers and signed both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He may well have been patient, but Franklin certainly didn’t waste any time.
