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Card #c1061IR // #c1061Synthesis

"As he proceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give the coppers. Another stroke of his oratory made me asham'd of that, and determin'd me to give the silver; and he finish'd so admirably, that I empty'd my pocket wholly into the collector's dish, gold and all."

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

[Use when]

You are walking into a strong pitch you have already decided to refuse.

[Why it matters]

He had "silently resolved" Whitefield would get nothing. A friend at the same sermon had emptied his pockets before leaving home and still tried to borrow money to give. Neither man's advance decision survived the sermon.

More from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

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