Discussions were to be conducted without fondness for dispute or desire of victory. Franklin taught his friends to push their ideas through suggestions and questions, and to use {or at least feign} naïve curiosity to avoid contradicting people in a manner that could give offense. All expressions of positiveness in opinion or of direct contradiction, he recalled, were prohibited under small pecuniary penalties. It was a style he would urge on the Constitutional Convention sixty years later. In
In his teachings, Franklin emphasized the importance of conducting discussions with an open mind, free from the urge to argue or win. He encouraged his friends to navigate conversations through suggestions and questions, fostering an environment where naïve curiosity could prevail. This approach helped to avoid offending others by steering clear of outright contradictions or assertive opinions.
Franklin recalled that expressions of strong opinions or direct challenges were discouraged and even penalized financially, promoting a style of discourse that he would later advocate during the Constitutional Convention. His methods illustrated a commitment to constructive dialogue and respect for differing viewpoints.
