Convention Quote by Benjamin Franklin
““On the whole, sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the convention who may still have objections to it, would, with me, on this occasion, doubt a little of his own infallibility, and, to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Convention Speech, 1765
Encourages members to modestly doubt their own certainty and publicly support the agreement.
In simple terms: Ask members to admit possible errors and sign the document.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge fallibility and unite.
Themes
humility
unity
collaboration
Mood
reflective
formal
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- political conventions
- board meetings
- team projects
- legislative votes
Key Concepts
confidence
group dynamics
decision making
Questions to Reflect On
- How can admitting uncertainty strengthen group decisions?
- What risks arise from over‑confidence?
A Different Perspective
Some may view doubt as weakness, reducing confidence.
