While researching about the whole Pay It Forward movement I started seeing information about Benjamin Franklin and how he actually was using this concept a long time before it was really well known. In 1784, he wrote a letter to Benjamin Webb, describing how he is giving him some money to help him out with his debts. Instead of Franklin asking Webb to pay him back, he wants Webb to help someone else who might be in a bad predicament. He essentially wants Webb to Pay It Forward and hopes that this act might go through many hands before it gets stopped. Franklin also describes that this is a trick of his..something that would produce a good deed while using little money.
Benjamin Franklin was known for doing a lot in his lifetime, but finding this out doesn't really surprise me. I just thought it was really cool that this idea of helping others out (while getting nothing in return) was going on for such a long time. I hadn't realized this idea had been reinvented over the years.
If you want to look at the letter, I found it at Wikisource
Benjamin Franklin was known for doing a lot in his lifetime, but finding this out doesn't really surprise me. I just thought it was really cool that this idea of helping others out (while getting nothing in return) was going on for such a long time. I hadn't realized this idea had been reinvented over the years.
If you want to look at the letter, I found it at Wikisource
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