Benjamin Franklin’s 1745 Dating Advice
In 1745, Benjamin Franklin wrote a wild letter giving dating advice to a young friend. Almost Over 280 years later, it is still relevant… And highly amusing.
Advice To A Friend On Choosing A Mistress
June 25, 1745
My dear Friend,
I know of no Medicine fit to diminish the violent natural Inclinations you mention; and if I did, I think I should not communicate it to you. Marriage is the proper Remedy. It is the most natural State of Man, and therefore the State in which you are most likely to find solid Happiness. Your Reasons against entring into it at present, appear to me not well-founded. The circumstantial Advantages you have in View by postponing it, are not only uncertain, but they are small in comparison with that of the Thing itself, the being married and settled. It is the Man and Woman united that make the compleat human Being. Separate, she wants his Force of Body and Strength of Reason; he, her Softness, Sensibility and acute Discernment. Together they are more likely to succeed in the World. A single Man has not nearly the Value he would have in that State of Union. He is an incomplete Animal. He resembles the odd Half of a Pair of Scissars. If you get a prudent healthy Wife, your Industry in your Profession, with her good Œconomy, will be a Fortune sufficient.
But if you will not take this Counsel, and persist in thinking a Commerce with the Sex inevitable, then I repeat my former Advice, that in all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. They are these:
- Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.
- Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.
- Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.
- Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclin’d to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.
- Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.
- Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.
- Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.
- And Lastly They are so grateful!!
Thus much for my Paradox. But still I advise you to marry directly; being sincerely Your affectionate Friend.
Benjamin Franklin’s Dating Advice (Modernized Version)
Benjamin Franklin was ultimately recommending marriage to his friend, but alternatively suggested to date older women if he still didn’t want to get married.
Basically… Benjamin Franklin was saying that older women have great pussy and are highly underrated.
The most interesting point Benjamin Franklin made was that ‘in the dark’, all pussy is basically the same… He literally went as far as saying that you could have a young woman and an old woman in a room, put baskets over them and not be able to tell the difference if you had sex with them. Therefore, in plain English, although older women age to have wrinkly faces and drooping titties, their pussies are not really any different from the pussies of younger women.
Benjamin Franklin doth speaketh facts.
I remember when I had sex with a much older woman for the first time. She was 47, and raw sex with her was really no different from having raw sex with an 18 year old. Of course, 18 year old girls should have birth control at least.
But, let’s not forget that Benjamin Franklin is ultimately claiming that a man who remains single forever is incomplete. This is an interesting reminder of the 3 stages of game.
Why Benjamin Franklin Believed Older Women Are Underrated
To summarize all the points Benjamin Franklin made in general…
1. Better Conversations
Older women have more knowledge of the world and are better at maintaining interesting social dynamics.
2. Utility
When women age, they continue to be useful friends and companions.
3. No Births
Older women, particularly beyond the age of 45, can have sex without becoming pregnant.
4. Discretion
Older women are more experienced in maintaining romantic discretion, without damaging reputations.
5. Sex Is The Same
Vaginal sex with older women is equally enjoyable.
6. No Virgin Loss
By being romantically involved with older women, you don’t risk ruining the life of a virgin woman if you don’t commit to her.
7. No Bad Karma
Because there is no risk of emotional damage towards a young woman who wanted to remain a virgin until marriage, there is no guilt you can possibly feel.
8. Gratitude
Older women are more appreciative of the attention and therefore more devoted to your happiness.
