The Autobiography and Essays of Dr. Benjamin Franklin

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J.B. Lippincott, 1864 - 231 pages

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Page 193 - 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;" being overtaken and Slain by the enemy, all for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.
Page 191 - ... cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says in his Almanack of 1733.
Page 196 - 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...
Page 176 - But you who are wise must know, that different nations have different conceptions of things ; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same with yours.
Page 106 - 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. But the work shall not be lost, For it will, as he believed, appear once more, In a new and more elegant edition, Revised and corrected By THE AUTHOR.
Page 191 - Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and He that riseth late must trot, all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him. Drive thy business, let. not that drive thee; and Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, as Poor Richard says.
Page 192 - What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy : " Diligence is the mother of good luck," as poor Richard says, and, " God gives all things to industry ; then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you will have corn to sell and to keep,
Page 223 - In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because 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...
Page 190 - I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of almanacs) annually, now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses and no other author has taken the least notice of me ; so that, did...
Page 175 - Counsellors; for all their Government is by the Counsel or Advice of the Sages; there is no Force, there are no Prisons, no Officers to compel Obedience, or inflict Punishment. Hence they generally study Oratory; the best Speaker having the most Influence.

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