--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He is no clown that drives the plow, but…" description: "\"He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png" --- # He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth… ![“He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png) > “He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work is valued, but those who pretend to be foolish while actually working are mocked. **In simple terms:** True effort is respected, not pretended laziness. Key Takeaway Recognize genuine effort over false appearances. Themes work ethic honesty social perception Mood reflective critical Type philosophical When to use this quote - employment - community standards - personal reputation Key Concepts authenticity labor value social critique Questions to Reflect On - How do you differentiate genuine effort from pretended? - What social cues signal true diligence? A Different Perspective People may misinterpret sincere labor as foolishness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) [Clown Drives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown-drives-2125575/) [Clownish Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clownish-things-2125573/) [Doth Clownish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doth-clownish-2125574/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Plow Doth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plow-doth-2125576/) [Poor richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-richard/) ## Related quotes > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that would travel much, should eat little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-would-travel-much-should-eat-little/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Quarrels never could last long, if on one side only lay the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/quarrels-never-could-last-long-if-on-one-side-only-lay-the-wrong/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-sting-of-a-reproach-is-the-truth-of-it/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [An ounce of wit that is bought, Is worth a pound that is taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/an-ounce-of-wit-that-is-bought-is-worth-a-pound-that-is-taught/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-most-exquisite-folly-is-made-of-wisdom-spun-too-fine/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-cunning-man-steals-a-horse-the-wise-man-lets-him-alone/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/thou-can-st-not-joke-an-enemy-into-a-friend-but-thou-may-st-a-friend/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/so-much-for-industry-my-friends-and-attention-to-one-s-own-business/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that speaks ill of the mare will buy her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-speaks-ill-of-the-mare-will-buy-her/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A man in a passion, rides a mad horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-man-in-a-passion-rides-a-mad-horse/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [It is better to take many injuries than to give one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-better-to-take-many-injuries-than-to-give-one/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [At the working man’s house, hunger looks in but dares not enter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/at-the-working-man-s-house-hunger-looks-in-but-dares-not-enter/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? 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Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Clown quotes > [“October 3, 2017 The clown, Hagarty said, looked like a cross between Ronald McDonald and that old TV clown, Bozo—or so he thought at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/october-3-2017-the-clown-hagarty-said-looked-like-a-cross-between/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [There are two types of people in this world. People who hate clowns...and clowns. (Bobby Pendragon)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-j-machale-2/there-are-two-types-of-people-in-this-world-people-who-hate-clowns/) [D. J. MacHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-j-machale-2/) > [I wanted to be a clown when I was a kid, so I love interacting and goofing around with kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stonestreet/i-wanted-to-be-a-clown-when-i-was-a-kid-so-i-love-interacting-and/) [Eric Stonestreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stonestreet/) > [When fighting clowns, always go for the juggler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/when-fighting-clowns-always-go-for-the-juggler/) [Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/) > [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/) [Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/) > [He's fat and a clown, Bill, a fat clown for all to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-dunphy/he-s-fat-and-a-clown-bill-a-fat-clown-for-all-to-see/) [Eamon Dunphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-dunphy/) > [You know, I was the class clown in Catholic school, but I never thought I would make a living out of it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sofia-vergara/you-know-i-was-the-class-clown-in-catholic-school-but-i-never-thought/) [Sofia Vergara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sofia-vergara/) > [You see, this heart, won't settle down; just like a child, running, scared, from a clown. Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-see-this-heart-won-t-settle-down-just-like-a-child-running-scared/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Circus clown. That's a new one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/circus-clown-that-s-a-new-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I first started getting into acting, I was doing improv in acting class, and I had done a serious monologue and everyone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-teller/when-i-first-started-getting-into-acting-i-was-doing-improv-in-acting/) [Miles Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-teller/) > [Writing is for men who can think and feel, not mindless sensation seekers out of nightclubs and bars. But these are bad times. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naguib-mahfouz/writing-is-for-men-who-can-think-and-feel-not-mindless-sensation/) [Naguib Mahfouz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naguib-mahfouz/) > [“If i'm gonna be described as a clown for my actions, I might aswell be a whole circus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bee/if-i-m-gonna-be-described-as-a-clown-for-my-actions-i-might-aswell-be/) [Bee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bee/) > [I had a dream that a clown named dimples keep leaving the radio on in my room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-that-a-clown-named-dimples-keep-leaving-the-radio-on-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is that love? It seems like a pale word, too easily tossed about by people who don’t know the meaning of it, who twist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/is-that-love-it-seems-like-a-pale-word-too-easily-tossed-about-by/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [I'm an actor, not a clown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wilder/i-m-an-actor-not-a-clown/) [Gene Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wilder/) [Browse all 837 Clown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clown/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but-he-that-doth-clownish-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clown" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but-he-that-doth-clownish-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/425/benjamin-franklin-65_clown_he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but_204184.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He is no clown that drives...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but-he-that-doth-clownish-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-is-no-clown-that-drives-the-plow-but-he-that-doth-clownish-things/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```