What does this Quote from Benjamin Franklin mean?

Question

" In rivers and Bad Governments The lightest things swim at top"

"A Flatterer never seens absurd: the Flatter'd always take his word"

"Men meet, mountains never"

Answer 1

In bad governments, people and ideas with no weight, or substance, will become evident. Compare with light objects that will float on top of the river's surface.
When people are flattered, they accept what the flatterer says, even if it's ridiculous. (This is not always true, however.)
People meet each other everywhere. Mountains stay where they are.

Answer 2

Unsure how to put this any other way,
Cr*p always floats both in water and government.