Essays and Letters, Volumes 1-2 |
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Page 11
Almost every man has a strong natural desire of being valued and esteemed by
the rest of his species ; but I am concerned and grieved to see how few fall into
the right and only infallible method of becoming so . That laudable ambition is too
...
Almost every man has a strong natural desire of being valued and esteemed by
the rest of his species ; but I am concerned and grieved to see how few fall into
the right and only infallible method of becoming so . That laudable ambition is too
...
Page 12
If we were as industrious to hecome good as to make ourselves great , we should
become really great by being good , and the number of valuable men would be
much increased ; but it is a grand mistake to think of being great without ...
If we were as industrious to hecome good as to make ourselves great , we should
become really great by being good , and the number of valuable men would be
much increased ; but it is a grand mistake to think of being great without ...
Page 28
Body would quickly become detestable ; because , in such a case , as is justly ob
. served , the pleasure arising from a tale of wit and novelty soon dies away in
generous and honest minds , and is followed with a secret grief , to see their ...
Body would quickly become detestable ; because , in such a case , as is justly ob
. served , the pleasure arising from a tale of wit and novelty soon dies away in
generous and honest minds , and is followed with a secret grief , to see their ...
Page 50
He began with him thus : “ You have a mind , then , to go . vern the republic ? ” “ I
have so , " answered Glaucon . “ You cannot , ” replied Socrates , “ have a more
noble design : for if you can accomplish it , so as to become absolute , you will be
...
He began with him thus : “ You have a mind , then , to go . vern the republic ? ” “ I
have so , " answered Glaucon . “ You cannot , ” replied Socrates , “ have a more
noble design : for if you can accomplish it , so as to become absolute , you will be
...
Page 57
... but who has lately acted honestly ? for currents , whose natural channel is
dammed up , till the new course is by time worn sufficiently deep and become
natural , are apt to break their banks . If one servant is more valuable than
another , has ...
... but who has lately acted honestly ? for currents , whose natural channel is
dammed up , till the new course is by time worn sufficiently deep and become
natural , are apt to break their banks . If one servant is more valuable than
another , has ...
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Popular passages
Page 79 - You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter ; but remember, ' many a little makes a mickle.' Beware of little expenses ; ' a small leak will sink a great ship...
Page 83 - ... 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 155 - I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.
Page 75 - ... as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life ? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff" life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says.
Page 74 - and neighbors, 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 us by allowing an abatement. However let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; 'God...
Page 75 - Key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that' s the Stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard says. -How much more than is necessary do we spend in Sleep ! forgetting that The sleeping Fox catches no Poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the Grave, as Poor Richard says.
Page 157 - It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does ; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded, like those of the builders of Babel ; and that our states are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution, because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best.
Page 86 - The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees you at a...
Page 76 - Richard say, one today is worth two tomorrows, and farther, have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. 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 75 - He, that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he, that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as poor Richard says: 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, " at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Bibliographic information
| Title | Essays and Letters, Volumes 1-2 British prose writers Essays and Letters, Benjamin Franklin |
| Author | Benjamin Franklin |
| Publisher | John Sharpe, 1820 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 8 Dec 2006 |
| Length | 340 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |