Examples Of Aphronism In Poor Richard's Almanac

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My favorite aphronism in Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac is, “He’s a fool who makes his doctor his heir,” and I find it interesting how it sets itself up as an authority on the matter when it actually puts moral authority into the reader’s hands The aphronism warns against setting ourselves up for failure by implementing an unique condition into a doctor patient relationship. Since the doctor gets paid to take care of the patient, it is in the doctor’s best interest to keep his patient alive. However, when the patient makes the doctor his heir it becomes more profitable for the doctor if the patient dies and therefore the doctor won’t give the patient the best possible care. So by making the doctor his heir the patient is setting himself