Ben Franklin found the secret to happy aging 275 years ago. Modern psychology agrees

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.