--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you read our Founding Fathers, people…" description: "\"If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson - what we're doing now in this country is making them roll over in their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png" --- # If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin… ![“If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson - what we're doing now in this country is making them roll over in their graves.” quote by Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png) > “If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson - what we're doing now in this country is making them roll over in their graves.” [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Current policies betray founding ideals, making historic leaders feel disrespected in their graves. **In simple terms:** Current actions betray founders. Key Takeaway Uphold founding values. Themes politics history legacy disrespect Mood critical hopeful Type political analytical When to use this quote - voting - activism - public discourse - education Key Concepts civic duty constitutionalism Questions to Reflect On - How can we honor founders today? - What reforms align with original intent? A Different Perspective Complex issues may not be black and white. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benjamin franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benjamin-franklin/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Founding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding/) [Founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founding-fathers/) [Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/franklin/) [Franklin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/franklin-jefferson-3780022/) [Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graves/) [Jefferson Doing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jefferson-doing-3780021/) [Like Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-benjamin-3780023/) [Our founding fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-founding-fathers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [This country could use a president like Benjamin Franklin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/this-country-could-use-a-president-like-benjamin-franklin-again/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [I really like Benjamin from Sweden with 'Dance You Off,' and Equinox from Bulgaria with 'Bones' - and they were really great to interview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-really-like-benjamin-from-sweden-with-dance-you-off-and-equinox/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I'm going to be like Benjamin Button; I'm just going to grow younger. I will probably be happy, fat, with kids and looking back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/i-m-going-to-be-like-benjamin-button-i-m-just-going-to-grow-younger-i/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [No man will ever treat me as well as Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/2much4you2touch/no-man-will-ever-treat-me-as-well-as-benjamin-franklin/) [@2muCh4you2touCh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/2much4you2touch/) > [ \[John's Adams\] description of \[Benjamin\] Franklin in a letter to \[his wife\] Abigail in 1775 is laudatory. Only when he experiences all the adulation… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/john-s-adams-description-of-benjamin-franklin-in-a-letter-to-his-wife/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“biography of the great American Benjamin Franklin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/biography-of-the-great-american-benjamin-franklin/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [“If I ever figure out theis \*!\_\_\_\*..?/@\* website I'll be the next Benjamin Franklin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/msennett/if-i-ever-figure-out-theis-website-i-ll-be-the-next-benjamin-franklin/) [MSennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/msennett/) > [One thing that always frustrated me was that, while Benjamin Franklin's was the best-known face of the eighteenth century, no one ever took his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-lepore/one-thing-that-always-frustrated-me-was-that-while-benjamin-franklin/) [Jill Lepore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-lepore/) > [Benjamin Franklin didnt win 21 Grammys right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/benjamin-franklin-didnt-win-21-grammys-right/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [My ideal man is Benjamin Franklin-the figure in American history most worthy of emulation ... Franklin is my ideal of a whole man. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isidor-isaac-rabi/my-ideal-man-is-benjamin-franklin-the-figure-in-american-history-most/) [Isidor Isaac Rabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isidor-isaac-rabi/) > [Reagan's half a disciple of Benjamin Franklin. He believes in early to bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyn-nofziger/reagan-s-half-a-disciple-of-benjamin-franklin-he-believes-in-early-to/) [Lyn Nofziger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyn-nofziger/) > [Elevated levels of confidence are omnipresent among history's greatest overachievers. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most famous men in the world even before he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eliot/elevated-levels-of-confidence-are-omnipresent-among-history-s/) [John Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eliot/) > [Benjamin Franklin said it best, 'Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-muhney/benjamin-franklin-said-it-best-believe-none-of-what-you-hear-and-half/) [Michael Muhney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-muhney/) > [Pennsylvania, the state that has produced two great men: Benjamin Franklin of Massachusetts, and Albert Gallatin of Switzerland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-ingalls/pennsylvania-the-state-that-has-produced-two-great-men-benjamin/) [John James Ingalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-ingalls/) > [ By 1782 \[John Adams\] had come to feel for \[Benjamin\] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/by-1782-john-adams-had-come-to-feel-for-benjamin-franklin-no-other/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) ## More by Rick Santelli > [We are a republic, very inefficient. If you want a really efficient form of government, you have a king or a dictator. And in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/we-are-a-republic-very-inefficient-if-you-want-a-really-efficient/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [I personally think money in politics on any level is horrible. I'd like to see a set amount and have every candidate spend it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-personally-think-money-in-politics-on-any-level-is-horrible-i-d/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [Believe me. When you're talking about trust in government, you're preaching to the choir, whether it's on the financial side, the central banking side:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/believe-me-when-you-re-talking-about-trust-in-government-you-re/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [The last place I'm ever going to live or work is D.C.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/the-last-place-i-m-ever-going-to-live-or-work-is-d-c/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [I come from immigrant grandparents. The country would not be what it is if it wasn't for the immigrants in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-come-from-immigrant-grandparents-the-country-would-not-be-what-it/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [The markets are the world's greatest Rubik's cube. And I love solving puzzles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/the-markets-are-the-world-s-greatest-rubik-s-cube-and-i-love-solving/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [I've talked about commodity price volatility in the past: go back to the tape... I never said it was about inflation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-ve-talked-about-commodity-price-volatility-in-the-past-go-back-to/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [There's hearings on everything. They're kabuki theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/there-s-hearings-on-everything-they-re-kabuki-theater/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [In normal times, investors should pay more attention to the credit markets because it's the energy by which everything is driven. It's the oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/in-normal-times-investors-should-pay-more-attention-to-the-credit/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [There's so much compromise in politics. I'm not a good compromiser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/there-s-so-much-compromise-in-politics-i-m-not-a-good-compromiser/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [We now have the technology to pretty much hear everything. Can you imagine how our holiday dinners would be if every relative's entire conversations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/we-now-have-the-technology-to-pretty-much-hear-everything-can-you/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [Around 1999, CNBC offered me a full-time post, and I'm the happiest I've ever been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/around-1999-cnbc-offered-me-a-full-time-post-and-i-m-the-happiest-i/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [Many other states ultimately - they might not have the same balance sheet as Wisconsin - but collective bargaining from the federal level... these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/many-other-states-ultimately-they-might-not-have-the-same-balance/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [No, traditions and norms aren't rules in the Constitution. There's a difference between a tradition and a law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/no-traditions-and-norms-aren-t-rules-in-the-constitution-there-s-a/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) > [I think we should all be proud that we are living in a country where we can question those we put in power because,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/i-think-we-should-all-be-proud-that-we-are-living-in-a-country-where/) [Rick Santelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) [Explore all 90 Rick Santelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/) ## More Benjamin franklin quotes > [“Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/benjamin-franklin-said-those-things-that-hurt-instruct/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [“People who have become great like Benjamin Franklin only became great because they learned how to invest time into improving whatever it is they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/people-who-have-become-great-like-benjamin-franklin-only-became-great/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [“In America, Benjamin Franklin famously risked his life by flying a kite in an electrical storm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/in-america-benjamin-franklin-famously-risked-his-life-by-flying-a/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [“Elsewhere in the journal, he transcribes the rules laid down by Benjamin Franklin as a prescription for happiness and success: “Eat not to dullness,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-schechter/elsewhere-in-the-journal-he-transcribes-the-rules-laid-down-by/) [Harold Schechter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-schechter/) > [ By 1782 \[John Adams\] had come to feel for \[Benjamin\] Franklin "no other sentiments than Contempt or Abhorrence." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-s-wood/by-1782-john-adams-had-come-to-feel-for-benjamin-franklin-no-other/) [Gordon S. Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-s-wood/) > [“Benjamin Franklin put it at a time of similiar uncertainty: “those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/benjamin-franklin-put-it-at-a-time-of-similiar-uncertainty-those-who/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [“Benjamin Franklin wrote that he would like to be embalmed in a cask of Madeira”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-fadiman/benjamin-franklin-wrote-that-he-would-like-to-be-embalmed-in-a-cask/) [Anne Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-fadiman/) > [Pennsylvania, the state that has produced two great men: Benjamin Franklin of Massachusetts, and Albert Gallatin of Switzerland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-ingalls/pennsylvania-the-state-that-has-produced-two-great-men-benjamin/) [John James Ingalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-ingalls/) > [“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking." Benjamin Franklin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-gautier/if-everyone-is-thinking-alike-then-no-one-is-thinking-benjamin/) [Susannah Gautier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-gautier/) > [“Benjamin Franklin put it well: “Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.” There”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/benjamin-franklin-put-it-well-anger-is-never-without-a-reason-but/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [This country could use a president like Benjamin Franklin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-bachmann/this-country-could-use-a-president-like-benjamin-franklin-again/) [Michele Bachmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-bachmann/) > [“Homer, in the second book of the Iliad says with fine enthusiasm, "Give me masturbation or give me death." Caesar, in his Commentaries, says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/homer-in-the-second-book-of-the-iliad-says-with-fine-enthusiasm-give/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Hang together, or hang separately. Benjamin Franklin is a genius.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renay-williams/hang-together-or-hang-separately-benjamin-franklin-is-a-genius/) [Renay Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renay-williams/) > [“Sketches Einstein: His Life and Universe A Benjamin Franklin Reader Benjamin Franklin: An American Life Kissinger: A Biography The Wise Men: Six Friends and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-isaacson/sketches-einstein-his-life-and-universe-a-benjamin-franklin-reader/) [Walter Isaacson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-isaacson/) > [“Fish and visitors stink after three days, according to Mr. Benjamin Franklin.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-moran/fish-and-visitors-stink-after-three-days-according-to-mr-benjamin/) [Johanna Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-moran/) [Browse all 73 Benjamin franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benjamin-franklin/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson - what we're doing now in this country is making them roll over in their graves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rick Santelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people-like-benjamin-franklin-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benjamin franklin" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people-like-benjamin-franklin-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3a/rick-santelli-7538_benjamin-franklin_if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people_2848952.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you read our Founding Fathers, people like Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson - what we're doing now in this…” — Rick Santelli", "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": "Rick Santelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you read our Founding Fathers,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people-like-benjamin-franklin-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santelli/if-you-read-our-founding-fathers-people-like-benjamin-franklin-and/#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 } } ] } ```