Idea Ripper // ArchiveCards: 1555 [Live] | Updated: 2026-10-14
Card #c1042IR // #c1042Synthesis

"every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss'd by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing" "all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband, and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties."

— In our words · Source: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Benjamin Franklin)

[Use when]

Your discussion group talks a lot, produces nothing, and keeps sliding into debate.

[Why it matters]

The Junto required output from everyone: a query each turn, an essay each quarter, queries read a week ahead. Heat was priced with small fines. The library, the fire company and the branch clubs all came out of it.

More from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

#c1038"I took some of the papers, and, making short hints of the sentiment in each sentence, laid them by a few days, and then, without looking…You want to learn a craft from a master's work and reading it again isn't teaching you anything. #c1039"I was charm'd with it, adopted it, dropt my abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation, and put on the humble inquirer and doubter."…Your questions keep winning arguments and people have started refusing to answer them. #c1040"I made it a rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others, and all positive assertion of my own." "in answering I…You are right on the substance and still losing the room.