The body of B. Franklin, Printer; Like the cover of an old…
““The body of B. Franklin, Printer; Like the cover of an old book (it's contents torn out, and stript of its lettering and guilding), lies here, food for worms But the work shall not be wholly lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more, in a new and more perfect edition, corrected and amended, by the Author.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Even when a body decays, the author's ideas endure, to be revived in a perfected form.
In simple terms: Ideas outlive physical death.
Preserve and refine your work.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- academic publishing
- archival preservation
- posthumous editions
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure ideas survive beyond us?
- What role does revision play in legacy?
Physical loss can hinder transmission of ideas.