“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”
- January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790
- American
- Polymath, Founding Father of the United States, Inventor, Diplomat, Writer
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Quote
“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.”
Explanation
In this quote, Benjamin Franklin affirms his commitment to helping the poor, but insists that the method of assistance matters. He distinguishes between relieving the symptoms of poverty and addressing its root causes. The key phrase—“not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it”—emphasizes Franklin’s belief that the true goal of charity should be empowerment and self-sufficiency, not dependency or complacency.
This view was consistent with Franklin’s Enlightenment-era values of industry, frugality, and personal responsibility. In a time when poor relief often came through church or state support, Franklin was wary of policies that, in his view, discouraged initiative or encouraged idleness. He believed that the best way to aid the poor was through education, employment opportunities, and incentives to become self-reliant—tools that would help them rise from poverty rather than remain comfortably within it.
Today, Franklin’s perspective continues to influence debates about welfare policy, social assistance, and economic mobility. While some argue for generous support systems, others echo Franklin’s concern that sustainable poverty reduction requires more than temporary relief. His words remind us that dignity, opportunity, and the capacity to thrive are more valuable than comfort in dependency—and that the best aid equips people to escape poverty, not endure it.
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