The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of Essays, Humorous, Moral, and Literary, with His LifeBooksellers, 1840 - 320 pages |
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Page 10
... employing myself , I shall yield to the inclination , so natural in old men , to talk of themselves and their exploits , and may freely follow my bent , without being tiresome to those who , from respect to my age , might think ...
... employing myself , I shall yield to the inclination , so natural in old men , to talk of themselves and their exploits , and may freely follow my bent , without being tiresome to those who , from respect to my age , might think ...
Page 17
... employing gentle means only , and such as were calculated to encourage his scholars . Under him I soon acquired an excellent hand , but I failed in arithmetic , and made therein no sort of progress . At ten years of age , I was called ...
... employing gentle means only , and such as were calculated to encourage his scholars . Under him I soon acquired an excellent hand , but I failed in arithmetic , and made therein no sort of progress . At ten years of age , I was called ...
Page 18
... employed in cutting the wicks , filling the moulds , taking care of the shop , carrying messa- ges , & c . The business displeased me , and I felt a strong inclination for a sea life ; but my father set his face against it . The ...
... employed in cutting the wicks , filling the moulds , taking care of the shop , carrying messa- ges , & c . The business displeased me , and I felt a strong inclination for a sea life ; but my father set his face against it . The ...
Page 19
... employed in the duties of his profession . But I well remember that the lead- ing men of the place used frequently to come and ask his advice respecting the affairs of the town , or of the church to which he belonged , and that they ...
... employed in the duties of his profession . But I well remember that the lead- ing men of the place used frequently to come and ask his advice respecting the affairs of the town , or of the church to which he belonged , and that they ...
Page 21
... employed in my fa- ther's trade for the space of two years ; that is to say , till I arrived at twelve years of age . About this time , my brother John , who had served his ap- prenticeship in London , having quitted my father , and ...
... employed in my fa- ther's trade for the space of two years ; that is to say , till I arrived at twelve years of age . About this time , my brother John , who had served his ap- prenticeship in London , having quitted my father , and ...
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Popular passages
Page 279 - 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 other...
Page 276 - 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 273 - And again, Three removes are as bad as a fire ; and again, Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee ; and again, If you would have your business done, go ; if not, send. And again, — He that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.
Page 156 - 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 272 - 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 270 - ... more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners 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 Almanac of 1733.
Page 271 - Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is 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.
Page 251 - ... molested in their persons, nor shall their houses or goods be burnt, or otherwise destroyed, nor their fields wasted by the armed force of the enemy...
Page 274 - 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.
Page 274 - 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...