Wise Words

Benjamin Franklin, who suffered much from "that hard to be govern'd Passion of Youth," wrote a letter advising a young man suffering the same, but unwilling to seek the remedy of marriage, to take only older women for mistresses, because "There is no hazard of Children." Also, older women are wiser, better talkers, better at intrigue, and better at other things, too, "every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement", not to mention, "They are so grateful!!"

found in THE NEW YORKER magazine, January 28, 2008