American statesman and polymath Ben Franklin’s legacy includes inspirational quotes on frugality, honesty, and hard work. He’s less frequently thought of as an icon of successful aging. But as doctor and author Ezekiel Emanuel recently pointed out on Big Think, “At a time when the average age at death was under 40, he lived to 84, fully mentally competent all the way to the end.”

That makes the founding father a worthy source of advice on aging well. What’s the biggest lesson we can learn from him.

Unsurprisingly, given he lived at a time when dentures were made out of wood and surgery was done without anesthesia, Franklin can’t teach us anything about the latest aging breakthroughs.

But he can remind us of a fundamental truth that’s thoroughly backed up by modern science, but still frequently forgotten: Staying useful is as important to aging well as any fancy new drug, fitness routine, or diet plan.

Subscribe to the Daily newsletter.Fast Company's trending stories delivered to you every day

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

SIGN UP

Privacy PolicyFast Company Newsletters

Ben Franklin’s secret to healthy aging 

Ben Franklin was 70 when he signed the Declaration of Independence, and he churned out inventions into his eighties. (Those include inventing bifocals to solve his own issues with failing eyesight). That might leave you with the impression that he was a work-until-you-drop kind of guy. But Emanuel points out that’s not actually how Franklin understood his own life. 

Franklin “invented retirement for working-class people,” Emanuel insists. “He made enough as a printer that he could retire at 42, and he said, ‘I’m going to live a life of leisure.’” 

That means everything that followed the ending of Franklin’s career as a printer, including much of his work helping to found the University of Pennsylvania and the United States, were technically retirement hobbies. 

© Fast Company