Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin, (1706-1790) US Founding Father

Famous Benjamin Franklin Quote

“We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
~ Benjamin Franklin


Ratings and Comments


Joe, Rochester, MI

There is safety in numbers ... especially if you are armed.

AJ Jackalin, Trenton

I think you should tell what the quote means.

Chicago
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Chicago    1/8/06

It means that in order to guarantee our independence and freedom, we will have to fight for it together and defend each others' rights when attacked, or else we will surely be singled out and lynched separately. Live free or die.

Joe, DC
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Joe, DC    6/3/06

Couldn't have said it better myself

Samantha, Peckville, PA

i think this quote means that if he and this fellow americans dont stick together they will be found speratly and killed for going againt the british. but if thy were to all stick together then there would be no stopping them. all they need in cooperation with in all the colonies but if one just one falls out of line it can bring down everything all these men have worked for.

Bill, Sarasota, FL

This quote is as true today as it was in 1776. If people who love Liberty and see it systematically being taken away by ever-more powerful governments do not organize around the Libertarian Party to stop it, Big Brother will very soon be controlling everyone on earth. That is, if our only choices aren't pray to Allah, surrender all your rights, or die.

Bryan Morton, Stuart, FL

I see this quote used out of context by collectivists. It is important to remember, Ben was advocating cooperative defense of individual liberty.

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

We should always remember this during our political debates. Partisanship and failures to treat each other with respect when we may differ on inane details of policy is what may get us all hung. Bryan Ben started many "collectives", 1) the Post Office, 2) the Philly Fire Department, 3) Fire insurance company etcetera.

Mike, Norwalk

The statement is at least as true today as it was then. The lack of concept of what freedom even is, is absolutely astounding. People like Waffler think the more licenses you have, the freerer you are. If you don't get the state's permission to drive your permitted vehicle to work, store, or anywhere, you could be hung, or at leas arrested. I vote to get our Republic, freedom, and liberty back, for all - lets all hang together.

E Archer, NYC

It means that when we declare to revolt against the tyranny of oppression, we can expect to meet some resistance. When one of us is singled out, the rest should come to his aid. Franklin said this upon the unanimous signing of the Declaration of Independence. When fighting for freedom for oneself, one fights for the freedom of all.

Crystal, Pittsburgh, PA

It means, saftey in numbers, and I also think that, if your party is low in numbers then you will actually hang, or it can also mean that you have to stick together to accomplish the great goal of freedom.

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

Mike believes that people should kill as many deer as they wish. He thinks movable property like cars, boats, etcetera should not be required to be registered, thus assisting the theives and drug dealers. Mike has no faith in America or its people to govern its self or themselves but rather prefers to have us governend by the despot "natural law". This is the same despot that enslaved the people of Europe for centuries under the "natural right of Kings". One man one vote is the politcal altar at which I worship.

Ken, Milford Pa

To all of you who commented that we are loosing our freedoms, and need to start fighting to get them back, and maintain the rest, BRAVO. More and more people are seeing the handwriting on the wall. We need to get very active, and take back our country. This can only be done if we all stick together. 'Government is not eloquence, it is not beauty. It is authority and force, and like fire it is a very dangerous servant, and a dreadful master. My brother, George Washington. Pray for Peace

Ken, Allyn, WA

I'm feeling rather lonely right now and something getting tighter around my neck...

jim k, austin

Waffler, do you babble for comic relief ?

Logan, Memphis, TN

Ah, poor Waffler, you contradicted yourself, yet again. You accuse Mike of having no faith in "America or its people to govern its self or themselves", but you support registration and regulation? Why do you support registration and regulation, unless you don't trust "America or its people to govern its self or themselves"? It sounds like Mike is advocating a greater amount of freedom -- an amount so great that "people [can] kill as many deer as they wish". You don't trust the American people enough to take away restriction, but you trust them enough to regulate cars, boats, etcetera? The despot of natural law? Yes, for shame! Damn gravity and the attracting, coercive, and despotic force it has laid on man for billions of years!! I think you should revolt and throw yourself out of a 10 story window to show gravity your protest. You ignorantly, once again, use a false premise in equating natural law with the "natural right of kings". Read a book, get an education.

Someone
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    Someone    10/22/20

    why was it that he said the quote??

    E Archer, NYC
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    E Archer, NYC Someone 10/25/20

    Franklin and the rest of the Continental Congress just passed the resolution to declare independence from England unanimously.  Either they all stand and fight for the Declaration of Independence or be hanged as traitors to the Crown.

    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

    We must become a community based organism with the welfare of all in our consciousness and all raise our standards of living to new heights together.

    Mike, Norwalk
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    Mike, Norwalk Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 11/7/22

    Sillik, why must "we" become a community based organism  for any reason ? ? ? That anti-law / theocracy sentiment has been pushed ad nauseam to only end in pain, poverty, destruction and death. It all sounds pretty in its shallow presentation while, there is nothing more ugly to the existence of the noble being man. Individual sovereigns united - abiding nature's law, acting with charity in their personal hearts is the only proven scenario that will lead to the utopia you allude to. Socialism is an enslaving standard that mandates new lows.

    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown
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    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown Mike, Norwalk 11/7/22

    Mike Norwalk In the sense of reality we realize we are all a single, but important part of an all connected creative whole. We, in the sense of reality, know what is healthy for one is healthy for all, and what is healthy for all is healthy for one. That's why we must reassert our sense of community, that is the reality of the human organism, Mr Mike Norwalk.

    E Archer, NYC
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    E Archer, NYC Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown 11/7/22

    That's ONE idea, Fred.  Do we have a choice as to whether we want to join the Borg or will we be assimilated?

    Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown

    Hello Mr Archer, in the sense of reality that is Socialism you will always have the choice of the action that promotes human life, always. The reason based choice is always available. Life is not, in the realm of reality, complicated, you Mr Archer will find the right choice is correct for everyone. 2+2=4 is correct for everyone. 

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