The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of Essays, Humorous, Moral, and Literary : with His Life |
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Page iii
... becomes an interest- ing subject , and is of general utility . It would be but fair to assert , that almost every civilized nation on the globe has , at one period or other , produced distinguished individuals in various stations of ...
... becomes an interest- ing subject , and is of general utility . It would be but fair to assert , that almost every civilized nation on the globe has , at one period or other , produced distinguished individuals in various stations of ...
Page 16
... become a man of letters , confirmed him in this design . My un- cle Benjamin approved also of the scheme , and pro- mised to give me all his volumes of sermons , written , as I have said , in the short - hand of his invention , if I ...
... become a man of letters , confirmed him in this design . My un- cle Benjamin approved also of the scheme , and pro- mised to give me all his volumes of sermons , written , as I have said , in the short - hand of his invention , if I ...
Page 23
... becoming a very bad habit , and frequently renders a man's company insup- portable , as being no otherwise capable of indulgence than by an indiscriminate contradiction . Indepen- dently of the acrimony and discord it introduces into ...
... becoming a very bad habit , and frequently renders a man's company insup- portable , as being no otherwise capable of indulgence than by an indiscriminate contradiction . Indepen- dently of the acrimony and discord it introduces into ...
Page 46
... become of me , should he fail to make good the deficiency . His habit of drinking did not at all diminish , and was a frequent source of discord between us ; for when he had drunk a little too much , he was very headstrong Being one day ...
... become of me , should he fail to make good the deficiency . His habit of drinking did not at all diminish , and was a frequent source of discord between us ; for when he had drunk a little too much , he was very headstrong Being one day ...
Page 50
... become his colleague in the establish ment of a new religious sect . He was to propagate the doctrine by preaching , and I to refute every opponent When he explained to me his tenets , I found many absurdities which I refused to admit ...
... become his colleague in the establish ment of a new religious sect . He was to propagate the doctrine by preaching , and I to refute every opponent When he explained to me his tenets , I found many absurdities which I refused to admit ...
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acquaintance advantage agreeable America appeared Assembly Boston Britain brother called citizens colonies continued daugh debt employed endeavour engaged England English Europe expense experiments father favour fluid Franklin French friends gave give governor hands hundred inconvenience industry inhabitants Keimer kind labour learned letters liberty Little Britain live Madeira wine manner master means ment merchants mind Mussulmen nation natural necessary never obliged observed obtained occasion opinion paper Pennsylvania perhaps persons Philadelphia pleasure poor Richard says portunity pounds pounds sterling power of points present printer printing printing-house procure produced proposed province of Pennsylvania racter received respect shillings slavery soon stamp act Stephen Potts subsistence thing Thomas Penn thought tion took town trade tricity vessel whistle wish young
Popular passages
Page 252 - A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horseshoe nail.
Page 257 - Things, for they may all be blasted without the Blessing of Heaven; and therefore, ask that Blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous. And now to conclude, Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other...
Page 251 - Methinks I hear some of you say, Must a man afford himself no leisure? I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says: Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.
Page 257 - Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expense is constant and certain ; and It is easier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says ; so, Rather go to bed supperless, than rise in debt. Get what you can, and what you get hold; 'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.
Page 250 - To-day. If you were a Servant, would you not be ashamed that a good Master should catch you idle? Are you then your own Master, be ashamed to catch yourself idle, as Poor Dick says.
Page 170 - Remember this saying, The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse. He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he promises, may at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world than punctuality and justice in all his dealings; therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment...
Page 230 - We are, however, not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we decline accepting it ; and to show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them.
Page 249 - It would be thought a hard government, that should tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service ; but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears ; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says.
Page 255 - And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece ; but Poor Dick says, It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.
Page 254 - By these and other extravagances the genteel are reduced to poverty and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly that A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says.