You know, I have heard this tired argument for years.. that franklin said the quote, and that no he didn't, he said the other one instead, and that no, he said both as well as other things..
Personally, I could care less whether he said what I have quoted or not...
It's a 'truth' that I happen to agree with.. and I have no problem attributing it to a man from amongst a group of men whom I respect and admire for having the courage to allow themselves to be used by their Creator to start a revolution, and then write, and enact a document which has resulted in the greatest, most free, most noble, most gracious country and people the world has ever known...
because I am directly benefiting from that... including being allowed to freely brew some awesome suds at home so that I can toast my glass in agreement to what Mr. Franklin may or may not have said... Whether he said that word for word or not, it definitely embodied the spirit of the man and his peers of the time.. and generation upon generation to follow..
GOD BLESS THE USA!