“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin urges individuals to recognize, develop, and actively use their abilities. The first line, “Hide not your talents,” is a clear call to avoid letting potential go to waste. He follows this with a metaphor: “What’s a sundial in the shade?”—a sundial, which measures time by sunlight, is useless without light. Likewise, a person’s talents are ineffective if kept hidden or unused.
Franklin, a polymath who excelled in science, politics, writing, and invention, lived by this principle. Rooted in Enlightenment values, the quote reflects his belief that every person has something valuable to contribute and that active engagement in the world is both a duty and a path to fulfillment. It also draws from a Puritan ethic that saw talent as a gift that comes with responsibility.
In modern life, this message continues to resonate. Whether in the workplace, creative pursuits, or civic life, failing to act on one’s strengths out of fear, doubt, or apathy results in lost opportunity and diminished impact. Franklin reminds us that talent is not meant for storage but for service—to ourselves, our communities, and the world. Only through use do our abilities gain meaning and value.
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