The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of Essays, Humorous, Moral, and Literary : with His LifeLeavitt & Allen, 1853 - 288 pages |
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Page 2
... mind all its circum- stances , and , to render their remembrance more dura- ble , commit them to writing . By thus employing myself , I shall yield to the inclination , so natural in old men , to talk of themselves and their exploits ...
... mind all its circum- stances , and , to render their remembrance more dura- ble , commit them to writing . By thus employing myself , I shall yield to the inclination , so natural in old men , to talk of themselves and their exploits ...
Page 4
... minds . Thomas thus rendered himself competent to the functions of a country attorney ; soon became an essential personage in the affairs of the village ; and was one of the chief movers of every public en- terprise , as well relative ...
... minds . Thomas thus rendered himself competent to the functions of a country attorney ; soon became an essential personage in the affairs of the village ; and was one of the chief movers of every public en- terprise , as well relative ...
Page 9
... mind for public en- terprises , though the one in question was not conducted by justice . The mill - pond was terminated on one side by a marsh , upon the borders of which we were accustom- ed to take our stand , at high water , to ...
... mind for public en- terprises , though the one in question was not conducted by justice . The mill - pond was terminated on one side by a marsh , upon the borders of which we were accustom- ed to take our stand , at high water , to ...
Page 10
... minds of his children . By this means he early attracted our attention to what was just , prudent , and beneficial in the conduct of life . He never talked of the meats , which appeared upon the table , never discussed whether they were ...
... minds of his children . By this means he early attracted our attention to what was just , prudent , and beneficial in the conduct of life . He never talked of the meats , which appeared upon the table , never discussed whether they were ...
Page 15
... mind . I afterwards compared my Spectator with the original ; I perceived some faults , which I corrected : but Í found that I wanted a fund of words , if I may so express myself , and a facility of recollecting and em- ploying them ...
... mind . I afterwards compared my Spectator with the original ; I perceived some faults , which I corrected : but Í found that I wanted a fund of words , if I may so express myself , and a facility of recollecting and em- ploying them ...
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able acquaintance advantage agreeable America appeared articles of confederation Assembly Boston Britain brother called citizens colonies continued debt electricity employed endeavoured engaged England English Europe experiments father favour fluid Franklin French friends gave give Governor hundred inconvenience industry inhabitants Keimer kind labour learned letters liberty Little Britain live Madeira wine manner master means ment merchants mind nation necessary neral never obliged observed obtained occasion opinion paper Pennsylvania perhaps persons Philadelphia philosophers pleasure poor Richard says pounds pounds sterling power of points present printer printing procure produce proposed province of Pennsylvania quaker quantity racter received respect shew shillings slavery soon stamp act subsistence thing Thomas Penn thought tion took town trade uncle Benjamin vessel whole wish young
Popular passages
Page 237 - If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.
Page 243 - We are offered by the terms of this sale six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But ah ! think what you do when you run in debt: you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity and sink into...
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 238 - To-day. 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 141 - Good," which, I think, was written by your father. It had been so little regarded by a former possessor that several leaves of it were torn out, but the remainder gave me such a turn of thinking as to have an influence on my conduct through life; for I have always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good than on any other kind of reputation ; and if I have been, as you seem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book.
Page 241 - 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 shall sell thy necessaries. And again, At a great pennyworth pause a while.
Page 218 - We have had some experience of it : several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges of the northern provinces ; they were instructed in all your sciences ; but when they came back to us, they were bad runners ; ignorant of every means of living in the woods; unable to bear either cold or hunger; knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy ; spoke our language imperfectly ; were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, nor counsellors ; they were totally...
Page 239 - 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 245 - 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 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, and that There will be sleeping enough in the Grave, as Poor Richard says.