Franklin P. Jones

Here is a profile of Franklin P. Jones and some of his memorable quotes:

Franklin P. Jones – Life & Career

Full name: Franklin Pierce Jones (often cited as Franklin P. Jones)
Approximate lifespan: 1908 – 1980
Profession: American journalist, humorist, public relations executive, columnist
He was associated with the Philadelphia press scene and wrote quips, aphorisms, filler paragraphs, and short humorous observations widely reprinted in magazines and newspapers.
He wrote the column “Put it This Way” in The Saturday Evening Post, which was long-running and widely syndicated.
His journalism career began in Philadelphia; he worked for the Philadelphia Record as a reporter, feature writer, and editorial staff before moving into public relations and freelance writing.
After working in PR in Philadelphia, he eventually left that to write humor full time, producing thousands of short, witty “paragraphs, epigrams, anecdotes, gag lines, definitions” over his career.
He died of cancer at home in Wayne, Pennsylvania, in December 1980 at age 72.

Style & Influence

Jones is best remembered less for long essays or books than for the brevity and wit of his short observations. His work exemplifies the tradition of the “paragrapher” or epigrammatist: capturing irony, human foibles, and everyday truths in compact, shareable lines.

Because his lines were widely reprinted and anthologized (sometimes anonymously), his voice became part of the shared pool of American wit. Many of his one-liners appear in collections of quotations.

Selected Quotes

Here are some representative lines attributed to Franklin P. Jones:

“Love doesn’t make the world go ’round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.”
“One advantage of talking to yourself is that you know at least somebody’s listening.”
“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.”
“Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.”
“Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.”
“Originality is the art of concealing your sources.”
“The trouble with being punctual is that nobody’s there to appreciate it.”
“Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice.”
“The most efficient labor-saving device is still money.”
“Nothing makes you more tolerant of a neighbor’s noisy party than being there.”