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Aphorism: (noun) a pithy observation that contains a general truth.

Almanac and almanack are both English terms. Almanac is predominantly used in 🇺🇸 American English while almanack is predominantly used in 🇬🇧 British English.

Poor Richard's Almanac

1. Watch these two linked videos for background information on Ben Franklin's publications:

1. Video 1

2. Video 2

2. Use this link to read through a compiled list of aphorisms from many editions of Poor Richard's Almanac (starting on page 13 of the PDF) This link isn't working currently, sorry!

3. Use this link to read through a PDF version of Poor Richard's Almanac from 1758 (pages 2 - 5 are the preface)

4. Use this PDF to see all the versions of Poor Richard's Almanack - 1733 - 1758

5. Choose 3 aphorisms to "translate" into modern words or restate in your own words (you can choose from any 3 of those linked documents). Create one separate post for each. Make sure you include (copy & paste) the original text in your post.

6. Make sure your name is on your posts so that you get credit!

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"Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly"

Translation: Just because a person is quiet does not necessarily mean they're wise, but someone who doesn't stop talking is definitely a fool.

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"Write Injuries in Dust, Benefits in Marble."

Translation: Be grateful for the good things in life, instead of focusing on the hardships and difficulties. Count your blessings.

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"Many medicines few cures."

Translation: No matter how many ways you try, you may never find an answer.

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"Snowy winter, a plentiful harvest."

Translation: Even when you are having a rough day full of work, you will be able to enjoy the next day.

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"Old Boys have their Playthings as well as young Ones; the Difference is only in the Price."

Translation: Adults tend to still desire "toys," they just happen to cost a whole lot more. They might want the newest technology or product, like a child might want the newest action figure or play set.

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"Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you but even with him; forgiving, it sets you above him."

Translation: Choose forgiveness above violence and revenge, for love reigns over hate and cruelty always.

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"A lie stands on one leg, truth on two."

Tranlation: It's harder to go around living a lie then it is to live the truth.

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"If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles"

Translation: Most of our wishes, like money, will hurt us more than benefit us. We should rethink what we want and be thankful for what we have.

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"A quarrelsome man has no good neighbors."

Translation: When you chose to fight instead of talk things out, you will gain a bad reputation and a life of loneliness.

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"A soft tongue may strike hard."

Translation: Although someone might be quiet or kind, they can be just are mean as they are kind.

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"Would you live with ease, Do what you ought, and not what you please"

If you want an easy life, do the necessary things and don't act on impulse.

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"Better slip with foot than tongue."

A physical public slip-up is much easier to recover from than one of your words.

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"What's a sundial in the shade?"

Translation: We should use the talents that we have. Why would our talents be useful if we don't use them?

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"Be neither silly, nor cunning, but wise."

There is a balance between being serious and obnoxious. Aim to be intelligent, but not arrogant, while maintaining a sense of humor without becoming follish.

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"Eat to live, don't live to eat."

Translation: Eat just what you have to, don't be greedy and stuff yourself just because you want to

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"No gains without pains."

Translation: You cannot get anything good out of life without having your failures as well.

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"Hunger never saw bad bread"

Translation: If you are truly hungry, you won't mind what kind of food goes into your mouth.

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"Well done is better than well said"

Translation: It is better to do something good than to just say that you are going to do it.

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"A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough."

Translation: Even if you live long, you might not be satisfied if you didn't live a successful life. However, if you accomplish something important to you, even if you die young, you'll be satisfied with what you did in life.

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"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."

Translation: Anger is a common emotion, and there always is a cause for it. However, there is rarely a good reason for it.

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"Content makes poor men rich; dis-content makes rich men poor."

Translation: If you're content with what you have (even if you're poor), you'll be rich since you do not long for more. If you're not content but have everything you could ever want, you're poor since you can't be grateful for what you have.

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"Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing"

Translation: A true friend is a close companion, so one must choose friends carefully. If you wish to abandon a friendship, do not do so right away; try to resolve it before moving on, if you must.

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"He who gives promptly, gives twice as much"

Translation: This actually could have two translations, depending on how you look at it.

1. Think about and consider a gift before you give it, or may give something of more value than you mean to.

2. When asked, give as soon as possible, and the gift will mean more to the recipient

You decide which to believe.

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"Wish not so much to live long, as to lie well"

Translation: A long life is no good if you do not live it well, and make something of it. Try to leave a mark before you go, because it'll happen eventually, buddy. Often sooner than you prefer.

That got dark fast...

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"Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy"

Translation: Choose to steer away from gossip and avoid talking bad about others.

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"He the lies down with dogs will rise up with fleas"

Translation: The people you hang out with will make a difference in the person you become.

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"Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar."

Translation: If you are kind to others instead of rude, people will like you more.

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"Hope of gain Lessens pain."

Translation: If you expect a reward suffering becomes easier to bear.

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"Nothing but Money, Is sweeter than Honey."

Translation: Nothing is sweeter and better than Money

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"The rotten Apple spoils his Companion"

Translation: Being a bad influence will negatively affect the people around you.

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Don't hide your light under a bushel.

This means you shouldn't keep your talents, abilities, or good qualities hidden. Everyone has skills and should not be afraid to use them.

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Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.

Translation: if you are afraid to do wrong or harm, then you do not need to fear anything else in life. If you avoid doing harm and act with integrity, you will be free from the anxieties and dangers that come with wrongdoing.

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Money and good manners make the gentleman.

Translation: The bishop and chancellor of England, William of Wykeham said "Manners maketh man," knowing that a rich man without manners does not differ from a beggar. Financial stability can provide certain privileges, but it's the combination of that wealth with good manners, respect, and etiquette that truly defines a refined and honorable person.

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You may sometimes be much in the wrong, in owning your being in the right.

Translation: Being right is not a folly, being right and then to gasconade, is to ameliorate your objectors position.

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"At 20 years of age the will reigns ; at thirty the wit ; at 40 the judgment."

Translation: At an early age what you want to do will control your life, at mid-age, your wisdom, and at an old age, the consequences of everything you did in your early age and mid-age.

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"An empty bag cannot stand upright"

Translation: A life, like a bag, without a solid purpose is a life unstable.

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"An honest man will receive neither money nor praise, that is not his due."

Translation: An honest person knows that the riches of the world he doesn't deserve; though he not ask for it, he deserves an eternal reward.

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"A countryman between two lawyers, is like a fish between two cats."

Translation: A common person trying to win in the court of law against two lawyers is as easy, for the lawyers, as two cats taking out a fish on land.

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"A good lawyer, a bad neighbor."

Translation: If a lawyer is good enough at his job then in common life he will couse problems for the people around him, due to the amount of common laws being broken constantly.

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"Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing."

Translation: Be careful, who you are friends with, because if you spend time with them then their actions with you rub off on you. Be as careful as passable when changing friends because it is hard to not burn bridges and keep up relations with both especially if they have crossing opinions.

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"He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner."

Translation: If you wait and not work hard, you will not get what you are hoping to get.

If you wait for money to just come to you, you're never going to get it unless you put in the work yourself.

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"Wish not so much to live long, but to live well."

Translation: You have to enjoy your life. If you're just waiting to live long and not really enjoying your life, it's better to do the things you love, be with the people you love, and feel good in the present moment.

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"Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble."

Translation: Always be grateful and remember the times when you were happy or something good happened. Focus on the positive and not so much on the negative.

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" One today is worth two tomorrows"

Translation: Its better to do it right now they save it for tomorrow.

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" Always keep moving forward"

Translation: No matter what challenges come you way you have to continue doing the work that youve been doing.

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" Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, weathly, and wise.

Translation: Sleep is very important to and can help make you smart.

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'' If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun''

Translation: Don't Put yourself in a position that will end badly.

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''If you would keep your secret from a enemy tell it not to a friend''

Translation: An enemy will not find out a secret if a secret is not told to a friend. In other words, if you want to keep something secret, don't tell anyone not even a friend.

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''wish not so much to live long but to live well''

Translation: Wish for a good life and not to live long.

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"One today is worth two tomorrows."

Translation: One day of hard work now is worth two days of easy work later.

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"Beware of little expenses: a small leak will sink a great ship."

Translation: Beware of spending small amounts frequently. A small portion of money can quickly spiral and destroy your bank account.

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"Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one."

Translation: People always have a reason to be angry. However, their anger is usually misdirected and/or underserved.

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"Great Talkers, little Doers"

Translation: Those who talk a lot usually don't do much work.

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"A fine genius in his own country, is like gold in the mine."

Translation: A really smart person is very valuable to his country. (he could be talking about himself)

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"He that cannot bear with other peoples passion, cannot govern his own."

Translation: If one can't be patient with other peoples feelings or beliefs, he can't manage his own.

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"He that cannot obey, cannot command."

Translation: Those who won't listen to others shouldn't be able to command others.

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"One today is worth two tomorrows."

Translation: Make today the best you can make it. Focus on what is happening in the present and not the future because who knows if there will be a tomorrow.

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"Well done is better than well said."

Translation: Actions speak louder than words. Saying that you will do something is not as important as actually doing it.

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"You may delay, but time will not."

Translation: What opportunities we fail to do now, we will not always be able to do in the future

"Wish not so much to live long, as to live well."

Translation: Live your life to the fullest

"Well done is better than well said."

Translation: Don't tell someone show them, actions mean more than words

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"Laws like to cobwebs, catch small flies,

great ones break through before your eyes."

Translation: Only good criminals are caught. Ones who have more on the line, great criminals, are not. And it's much more often for the law to punish smaller criminals.

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"Beware of little expenses: a small leak will sink a great ship."

Translation: Be cautious when spending small amounts of money regularly. A small fraction of money can make you become penniless in a short amount of time.

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"Haste makes waste."

Translation: Going too quickly and speeding through things will often ruin them.

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"Would you live with ease,

Do what you ought, and not what you please."

Translation: Do what you have to do instead of doing what you want to do.

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"If your head is wax don't walk in the sun."

Translation: If you know doing something will harm you don't do it.

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"Who has deceived thee so oft as myself?"

Translation: Because people's minds are driven by emotion of the situation and opinion about which actions are best, the entire realistic picture of the setting is often shrouded, partially or completely.

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"Late Children, early Orphans."

Translation: If you have kids later in life, the sooner you'll die, and after your death they still will be young, and will become orphans at a young age.

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"A Plowman on his Legs is higher than a Gentleman on his Knees."

Translation: On the outside, people may be more opulent, prideful, or stunning, without any generosity. Others facing hardships and pushing through them every day truly have the hidden worth beneath their appearance. Hence, the real worth of a person, their actions, behavior, and motives, actually determines their genuine level of esteem.

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"Don't think to hunt two hares with one dog."

Translation: Before attempting something, reconsider if the goal is reasonable and achievable. Otherwise, you will easily find yourself snatching at nothing.

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"Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee"

If you take good care of something that could sustain you, it will sustain you.

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"Little stokes, fell great oaks"

one small action can lead to a massive outcome.

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"Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge."

You should be kind to everyone, but don't let your guard down so much that people can take advantage of you.

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"No gains without pains."

Translation: Nothing good comes in life without a price to pay. Every pro has a matching con.

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"If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun."

Translation: Think logically. Don't put yourself in a disadvantageous position when it's unnecessary.

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"A lie stands on one leg, truth on two."

Translation: It's difficult to lie, and can fall apart easily when pushed in the right places. However, the truth is steady and strong.

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"Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee."

Translation: If you put in your efforts, it will come back to you in a good way.

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"Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt."

Translation: If you are driven to choose any behavior because of vanity and pride, it will only lead to having contempt, or disregard, for yourself and those that are putting that mindset or behavior on you.

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"A lie stands on one leg, truth stands on two."

Translation: Living a lie is harder than to live the truth, a lie can come crumbling down if pressured or pushed enough. But sometimes, one can adapt to the lie, completely selling it and no one bats an eye.

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"The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart."

Translation: Fools talk more nonsense and think less, while wise men think more and talk little of intelligence.

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"Blame-all and Praise-all are two blockheads."

Translation: Those who resent everybody, including good people, and those who praise everybody, including evil people, are not bright.

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"An old young man, will be a young old man."

Translation: A man who carries a heavy weight and works more at a young age shall be mature. But when he's older, he'll embody the younghood he missed out on.

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"Little strokes, fell great oaks."

Translation: A big project is really just many small projects intertwined.

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"Hide not your Talents, they for Use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?"

Translation: You shouldn't hide your talents- share them with the world. Because what's the point of having them if you don't use them?

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"For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse is lost; for want of a Horse the Rider is lost."

Translation: A "small" matter can turn into a chain reaction that affects a big thing.

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"A fine genius in his own country, is like gold in the mine."

Translation: This quote suggests that true brilliance, when presented within a society, is often overlooked or undervalued, much like a precious metal laying undiscovered within a mine.

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"There is no little enemy."

Translation: Any enemy you have is not little. If not taken seriously, although they are small, they can cause serious harm.

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"Don't think to hunt two hares with one dog."

Translation: "Do not try to pursue two different goals or tasks at the same time with limited resources."

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"He that's content hath enough."

Translation: You will never seem to have enough if you are not content with what you have.

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"Borrowing makes sorrowing"

Translation: If you borrow from someone you will regret it later.

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"He that wont be counsell'd, can't be helped."

Translation: If someone won't listen, then it is impossible to help them.

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"Fools multiply folly."

Translation: People who repeat mistakes are fools.

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"Where there's Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage."

Translation: When people are forced into a marriage, they often don't love their partner, they love someone else, who they can't marry.

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"Since I cannot govern my own tongue, tho' within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongues of others?"

Translation: Since you can't control the things you say, how can you expect to control the things other people say.

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"A penny saved is a penny earned."

Translation: Saving money is just as valuable as earning it. Being frugal, or costing little, helps you keep more of what you have.

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"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

Translation: Going to bed early and waking up early leads to better health, financial, success, and increased knowledge.

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"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else."

Translation: People who are good at making excuses usually aren't good at achieving anything meaningful.

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A house without woman or Fire-Light is like a body without soul or sprite.

Translation: Women and Fire-Light bring life and light to a household and without them there is none.

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Distrust and cautions are the parents of security.

Translation: by being cautious and slower to trust others, you are more likely to see any likely threats coming and have time to prepare.

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A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine.

Translation: an intelligent person is as valuable as gold.

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"If man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles."

Translation: Often what people want or wish for would have disastrous consequences and would, in reality, not benefit or help the person at all. So be careful what you wish for.