In revisiting the theme of being good to one another, we started to explore the concept of “paying it forward.” We’re all pretty familiar with the idea but were surprised to learn about its origins.

In our research, we found a beautiful letter that Benjamin Franklin wrote to a friend who’d requested to borrow money. In it, Franklin asked his friend to repay the debt by lending to someone else in need down the road, noting that he had no intention of receiving repayment but rather sought to do a world of good with what little he had to give.

This letter is among the first historical accounts of the pay-it-forward philosophy, having resonated with countless readers throughout time.