In his Autobiography Benjamin Franklin describes his invention of an efficient stove. He declined the chance to patent it and gain huge profits because:

... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.

(cf. GenomicBookshelves (2001-01-27), PublicDomain (2003-02-13), AntientCommons (2003-11-03), IntellectualHeirs (2005-05-27), ...)

(correlates: MacaulayOnCopyright, MysteryPop, Franklin's Virtues, ...)