You’ve probably made at least one decision by writing a pro and con list. You might be surprised to learn that Benjamin Franklin did too. Invited to become librarian for the Earl of Shelburne, Joseph Priestly asked Benjamin Franklin’s advice. Here is his reply:
London, September 19, 1772
Dear Sir: In the affair of so much importance to you wherein you ask my advice, I cannot, for want of sufficient premises, advise you what to determine, but if you please I will tell you how. When these difficult cases occur, they are difficult chiefly because while we have them under consideration, all the reasons pro and con are not present to the mind at the same time; but sometimes one set present themselves, and at other times another, the first being out of sight. Hence the various purposes or inclinations that alternately prevail, and the uncertainty that perplexes us.
To get over this, my way is to divide half a sheet of paper by a line into two columns; writing over the one Pro, and over the other Con. Then during three or four days’ consideration I put down under the different heads short hints of the different motives that at different times occur to me, for or against the measure. When I have thus got them all together in one view, I endeavor to estimate their respective weights; and where I find two (one on each side) that seem equal, I strike them both out. If I find a reason pro equal to some two reasons con, I strike out the three. If I judge some two reasons con equal to some three reasons pro, I strike out the five; and thus proceeding I find at length where the balance lies; and if after a day or two of further consideration, nothing new that is of importance occurs on either side I come to a determination accordingly. And though the weight of reasons cannot be taken with the precision of algebraic quantities, yet when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less likely to make a rash step; and in fact I have found great advantage from this kind of equation in what may be called moral or prudential algebra.
Wishing sincerely that you may determine for the best, I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately….
Ben Franklin
Since I’ve retired, I’ve been doing some selective book purging. I found this letter reproduced in the copy of How to Stop Worrying and Start Living I received when I took a Dale Carnegie course 40 years ago! Of course, that is nothing compared to the almost 250 years since the letter was originally written. I don’t know if Priestly took Franklin’s advice on using a Pro and Con list, but, according to Wikipedia, he did take the position with the Earl of Shelburne.
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