The Life and Miscellaneous Writings of Benjamin Franklin |
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Page 3
... took the appellation of Franklin , which had formerly been the name of a particular order of indi- viduals . * This petty estate would not have sufficed for their subsistence , had they not added the trade of blacksmith , which was ...
... took the appellation of Franklin , which had formerly been the name of a particular order of indi- viduals . * This petty estate would not have sufficed for their subsistence , had they not added the trade of blacksmith , which was ...
Page 4
... took a plea- sure in writing down according to the expeditory method " I hate from my very soul dissimulation . " he had devised . Many volumes were thus collected by him . He was also extremely fond of politics ; too much so , perhaps ...
... took a plea- sure in writing down according to the expeditory method " I hate from my very soul dissimulation . " he had devised . Many volumes were thus collected by him . He was also extremely fond of politics ; too much so , perhaps ...
Page 5
... took me sometimes to see masons , coopers , braziers , joiners , and other mecha- nics , employed at their work , in order to discover the bent of my inclination , and fix it if he could upon some occupation that might retain me on ...
... took me sometimes to see masons , coopers , braziers , joiners , and other mecha- nics , employed at their work , in order to discover the bent of my inclination , and fix it if he could upon some occupation that might retain me on ...
Page 6
... took notice of me . He invited me to see his library , and had the goodness to lend me any books I was desirous of reading . I then took a strange fancy for poetry , and composed several little pieces . My brother , thinking he might ...
... took notice of me . He invited me to see his library , and had the goodness to lend me any books I was desirous of reading . I then took a strange fancy for poetry , and composed several little pieces . My brother , thinking he might ...
Page 7
... took observes- Cocker's Treatise of Arithmetic , and went through it myself with the utmost ease . I also read a book of Navigation by Seller and Sturmy , and made myself master of the little geometry it contains , but I never proceeded ...
... took observes- Cocker's Treatise of Arithmetic , and went through it myself with the utmost ease . I also read a book of Navigation by Seller and Sturmy , and made myself master of the little geometry it contains , but I never proceeded ...
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The Life and Miscellaneous Writings of Benjamin Franklin (1839) Benjamin Franklin No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
acquainted advantage affairs afterwards agreeable America appeared Benjamin Franklin Bache Boston Britain brother Busy-body called character colonies consequence continued Dr Franklin Dr Priestley employed endeavour England esteem Europe father favour fluid France French friends gentleman give governor hands Henry Home honour industry inhabitants Keimer kind labour land learned letter liberty Little Britain lived London Lord Lord Kames Madeira wine mankind manner means ment merchant mind nation nature neighbours never obliged observed occasion opinion paper perhaps persons Philadelphia philosopher pleasure poor Richard says possession pounds pounds sterling present printer printing procure proposed province province of Pennsylvania racter received respect shillings ship Sir William Wyndham soon subsistence thee thing thou thought tion took town trade vessel William Temple Franklin wish words writing young
Popular passages
Page 48 - A little neglect may breed great mischief; adding, 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...
Page 54 - 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.
Page 37 - His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, Breathe soft or loud ; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, With every plant, in sign of worship wave. Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. Join voices all ye living Souls: Ye Birds, That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise.
Page 82 - 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 that government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors.
Page 48 - And again, The eye of a 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 48 - 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. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries.
Page 37 - Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, If better thou belong not to the dawn, Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Page 37 - Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix And nourish all things, let your ceaseless change Vary to our great Maker still new praise. Ye mists and exhalations...
Page 37 - Fountains and ye, that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. Join voices all ye living souls, ye birds, That singing up to heaven-gate ascend, Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise ; Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep ; Witness if I be silent, morn or even, To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise, Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still To give us only good ;...
Page 48 - So much for Industry, my Friends, and Attention to one's own Business; but to these we must add Frugality, if we would make our Industry more certainly successful. A Man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his Nose all his Life to the Grindstone, and die not worth a Groat at last. A fat Kitchen makes a lean Will, as Poor Richard says; and Many Estates are spent in the Getting, Since Women for Tea forsook Spinning and Knitting, And Men for Punch forsook Hewing and Splitting.