In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin was one of the most prominent figures in American politics and culture. He was also known for his quick wit and sense of humour.
One day, while Franklin was walking down the street, he saw a man carrying a large sack. The man looked tired and sweaty, so Franklin stopped to chat with him.
“Good day, my friend,” said Franklin. “What do you have in the sack?”
“Fish,” replied the man.
“Ah, I see,” said Franklin. “And do these fish swim upstream?”
“Yes, they do,” said the man.
“In that case, I will buy them all from you,” said Franklin. “I want to raise them in a pond and have them swim downstream. That way, I can sell them for twice the price!”
The man, who didn’t know much about fish or rivers, was impressed by Franklin’s knowledge and agreed to sell him the sack of fish for a low price.
Franklin later admitted to his friends that he had no intention of raising the fish in a pond or selling them for a profit. He simply wanted to play a harmless joke on the gullible fisherman.
The story of Benjamin Franklin and the fish is often cited as an example of his famous wit and sense of humour.
