The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 42
Page vii
... Assembly of France had determined to go into mourning for him.- What a glorious scene is opened there ! The annals of the world furnish no parallel to it . One of the honours of our departed friend is , that he has contributed much to ...
... Assembly of France had determined to go into mourning for him.- What a glorious scene is opened there ! The annals of the world furnish no parallel to it . One of the honours of our departed friend is , that he has contributed much to ...
Page viii
... Assembly of France decreed a general mourning for three days . « The august spectacle of the first free people on earth in mourn- ing for the father of the liberty of two worlds , » says a gentleman in a letter dated Paris , June 14 ...
... Assembly of France decreed a general mourning for three days . « The august spectacle of the first free people on earth in mourn- ing for the father of the liberty of two worlds , » says a gentleman in a letter dated Paris , June 14 ...
Page ix
... assemblies , and discovered an uncommon aptitude in his remarks on all occasions . He was averse to taking the lead in investigations , which were unlikely to terminate in any degree of certainty . To come forward in questions which in ...
... assemblies , and discovered an uncommon aptitude in his remarks on all occasions . He was averse to taking the lead in investigations , which were unlikely to terminate in any degree of certainty . To come forward in questions which in ...
Page 14
... , upon some political subject which I have now forgotten , gave offence to the assembly . My brother was taken into custody , censured , 1 and ordered into confinement for a month , because · 14 LIFE OF DR . FRANKLIN .
... , upon some political subject which I have now forgotten , gave offence to the assembly . My brother was taken into custody , censured , 1 and ordered into confinement for a month , because · 14 LIFE OF DR . FRANKLIN .
Page 15
... assembly , " That " James Franklin should no longer print the newspaper " entitled " The New England Courant . ' » In this conjunc- ture , we held a consultation of our friends at the printing- house , in order to determine what was ...
... assembly , " That " James Franklin should no longer print the newspaper " entitled " The New England Courant . ' » In this conjunc- ture , we held a consultation of our friends at the printing- house , in order to determine what was ...
Common terms and phrases
acquaintance advantage agreeable America ANDREW BRADFORD appeared assembly body Britain clouds colonies continued dear debt defence earth electricity endeavour enemy England expence experiments father favour Franklin friends give glass Gout governor hand happy harpsichord honour hope Indians industry inhabitants Keimer kind labour letter liberty live manner marriage matter means ment mind natural necessary neighbour nerally never obliged observed occasion opinion pain paper parliament pass Pennsylvania perhaps persons Philadelphia philosophers piece pleasure poor Richard says pounds pounds sterling power of points present produce proposed province province of Pennsylvania Quakers quantity racter received rise shillings Socratic method soon stamp act suffer thee thing Thomas Penn thou thought tion town trade wish wishing song
Popular passages
Page 105 - They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows: " Friends," says he, " the taxes are, indeed, very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver...
Page 122 - The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions. For life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effects of prudence or the want of it.
Page 118 - Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I consider, that with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the apples of king John, which happily are not to be bought ; for if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, . and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle.
Page 278 - And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, Wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, Creator of heaven and ea.rth...
Page 302 - Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born and here they shall die.
Page 244 - To a concurrence of causes; the restraints lately laid on their trade, by which the bringing of foreign gold and silver into the colonies was prevented; the prohibition of making paper money among themselves, and then demanding a new and heavy tax by stamps, taking away at the same time trials by juries, and refusing to receive and hear their humble petitions.
Page 105 - Richard likewise observes, he that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious we shall never starve; for...
Page 111 - He that idly loses five shillings' worth of time loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the sea. He that loses five shillings not only loses that sum, but all the advantage that might be made by turning it in dealing, which by the time that a young man becomes old will amount to a considerable sum of money.
Page 111 - In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality ; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them every thing. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets, ( necessary...
Page 302 - Much of the strength and efficiency of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opinion — on the general opinion of the goodness of the government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors.