The Life of Benjamin Franklin: With Many Choice Anecdotes and Admirable Sayings of this Great Man, Never Before Published by Any of His Biographers |
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Page 12
... youth , was not always so well used as it might have been . He honestly confesses that , once at least , he made such an unlucky use of it as drew them into a scrape that cost them dear . Their favourite fishing shore on that pond was ...
... youth , was not always so well used as it might have been . He honestly confesses that , once at least , he made such an unlucky use of it as drew them into a scrape that cost them dear . Their favourite fishing shore on that pond was ...
Page 16
... youth . And then his intellect was so far beyond his years ; his questions so shrewd ; so strong in reasoning ; so witty in remark , that his father would often forget his violin of nights for the higher pleasure of holding an argument ...
... youth . And then his intellect was so far beyond his years ; his questions so shrewd ; so strong in reasoning ; so witty in remark , that his father would often forget his violin of nights for the higher pleasure of holding an argument ...
Page 23
... youth as are apt to despair of becoming good writers , because they have never been taught the languages . Ben's example will soon convince them that Latin and Greek are not necessary to make En- glish scholars . Let them but commence ...
... youth as are apt to despair of becoming good writers , because they have never been taught the languages . Ben's example will soon convince them that Latin and Greek are not necessary to make En- glish scholars . Let them but commence ...
Page 24
... youth , after finding each other out , became as fond as brothers . And often as pos- sible , when the labours of the day were ended , they would meet at a little school - house in the neighbourhood , and argue on some given subject ...
... youth , after finding each other out , became as fond as brothers . And often as pos- sible , when the labours of the day were ended , they would meet at a little school - house in the neighbourhood , and argue on some given subject ...
Page 34
... youth is the season of gaiety and enjoyment , and all after is comparatively insipid , is it not better , before that pleasant state is ended in sorrow , the creature should pass away by a quick and generally easy fate , and appear ...
... youth is the season of gaiety and enjoyment , and all after is comparatively insipid , is it not better , before that pleasant state is ended in sorrow , the creature should pass away by a quick and generally easy fate , and appear ...
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Common terms and phrases
Æsop America asked beautiful Ben's benevolence Benjamin Franklin better Blackbeard blessed Boston British brother called CHAPTER child christians Collins colonies dear Deborah Read deism Deity delighted Denham discovery divine doctor Franklin electrical England eyes faith father favour fond gave gentleman give glory governor Keith grand hand happy head hear heart heaven honest honour hope imputed righteousness industry instantly James Keimer lady learned light lightning rods live London look lord lord North mind minister never night noble passion Philadelphia pleasure poor Richard says POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC pounds sterling pray printer printing-office Quaker racter Ralph religion replied rods ship smile soon spirit stamp act sure sweet taxes tell thee thing thou thought told took tricity turn virtues wisdom wise wish wonder young youth Zounds
Popular passages
Page 137 - I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man, with white locks; — "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up and replied, "If you would have...
Page 219 - 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 142 - This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom , but, after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent 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 afterward prosperous. " And now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no...
Page 139 - Master will do more Work than both his Hands; and again, Want of Care does us more Damage than want of Knowledge; and again, Not to oversee Workmen is to leave them your Purse open. Trusting too much to others...
Page 141 - If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing...
Page 141 - 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 140 - You call them goods ; but if you do not take care they will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost ; but if you have no occasion for them they must be dear to you.
Page 140 - What maintains one Vice, would bring up two Children. "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 what Poor Richard says, Many a Little makes a Mickle; and farther, Beware of little Expenses; A small Leak will sink a great Ship; and again. Who Dainties love, shall Beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make Feasts, and wise Men eat them.
Page 141 - Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy.' And after all, of what use is this pride of appearance for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health nor ease pain ; it makes no increase of merit in the person ; it creates envy ; it hastens misfortune.
Page 238 - THE BODY of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Printer, (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out, and stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here food for worms ; yet the work itself shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by THE AUTHOR.