When the Constitution finally emerged, it had no Bill of Rights. The delegates were exhausted—they’d been locked in that room for four months. They figured, “Eh, we’ll add those later.” But a huge fight erupted over whether to include protections for speech, press, and religion.
Franklin, ever the troll, gave a speech saying he didn’t agree with half of the final document, but he’d signed it anyway because perfection is for suckers. His closing line? “Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best.” Translation: “Meh, good enough.”
