The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of Essays, Humourous, Moral, and Literary : with His Life |
From inside the book
Page 8
America Thoughts on Commercial Subjects American White - washing Answer to the Above Final Speech of Dr. Franklin in the late Federa Convention Preference of Bows and . Arrows in War to Fire Arms : On the Theory of the Earth Loose ...
America Thoughts on Commercial Subjects American White - washing Answer to the Above Final Speech of Dr. Franklin in the late Federa Convention Preference of Bows and . Arrows in War to Fire Arms : On the Theory of the Earth Loose ...
Page 22
He was naturally more eloquent than I ; words flowed copiously from his lips ; and frequently I thought myself vanquished , more by his volubility than by the force of his arguments . We separated without coming to an agreement upon ...
He was naturally more eloquent than I ; words flowed copiously from his lips ; and frequently I thought myself vanquished , more by his volubility than by the force of his arguments . We separated without coming to an agreement upon ...
Page 23
I then , without looking at the book , endeavoured to restore the essays to their due form , and to express each thought at length , as it was in the original , employ . ing the most appropriate words that occurred to my mind .
I then , without looking at the book , endeavoured to restore the essays to their due form , and to express each thought at length , as it was in the original , employ . ing the most appropriate words that occurred to my mind .
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He thought himself entitled to the same services from me as from any other person . On the contrary , I conceived that , in many instances , he was too rigorous , and that , on the part of a brother , I had a right to expect greater ...
He thought himself entitled to the same services from me as from any other person . On the contrary , I conceived that , in many instances , he was too rigorous , and that , on the part of a brother , I had a right to expect greater ...
Page 29
Some proposed to evade the order , b hanging the title of the paper : but my brother forseeing inconveniences that would result from this step , thought it better that it should in future be printed in the name of Benjamin Franklin ...
Some proposed to evade the order , b hanging the title of the paper : but my brother forseeing inconveniences that would result from this step , thought it better that it should in future be printed in the name of Benjamin Franklin ...
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able advantage America appeared Assembly become body called carried common consequence considerable considered continued desire effect employed engaged England entered equal established Europe expense experiments father Franklin frequently friends gave give given hands hope hundred important improvement industry inhabitants interest kind known labour land late learned less letters liberty live manner master means mind nature necessary never obliged observed obtained occasion offered opinion pass perhaps persons Philadelphia pleasure poor pounds present printing produce proposed quaker reason received remain respect says shillings soon suffered taken thing thought tion took town trade turn whole wish writing young
Popular passages
Page 239 - 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 280 - 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 280 - 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 237 - 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...
Page 242 - If you would know the Value of Money, go and try to borrow some; for, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing; and indeed so does he that lends to such People, when he goes to get it in again.
Page 238 - 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, as Poor Richard says, At the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Page 143 - When I was a child of seven years old my friends on a holiday filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children, and being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one.
Page 279 - I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them, for having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
Page 280 - I think a general government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered ; and I believe, further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.
Page 240 - ... 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...