Essays and Letters, Volumes 1-2 |
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Page 3
ANDREW BRADFORD , I DESIGN this to acquaint you , that I , who have long
been one of your courteous readers , have lately entertained some thought of
setting up for an author myself : not out of the least vanity , I assure you , or desire
of ...
ANDREW BRADFORD , I DESIGN this to acquaint you , that I , who have long
been one of your courteous readers , have lately entertained some thought of
setting up for an author myself : not out of the least vanity , I assure you , or desire
of ...
Page 7
If such a fellow makes laughing the sole end and purpose of his life , if it is
necessary to his constitution , or if he has a great desire of growing suddenly fat ,
let him eat ; let him give public notice where any dull stupid rogues may get a
quart of ...
If such a fellow makes laughing the sole end and purpose of his life , if it is
necessary to his constitution , or if he has a great desire of growing suddenly fat ,
let him eat ; let him give public notice where any dull stupid rogues may get a
quart of ...
Page 11
Almost every man has a strong natural desire of being valued and esteemed by
the rest of his species ; but I am concerned and grieved to see how few fall into
the right and only infallible method of becoming so . That laudable ambition is too
...
Almost every man has a strong natural desire of being valued and esteemed by
the rest of his species ; but I am concerned and grieved to see how few fall into
the right and only infallible method of becoming so . That laudable ambition is too
...
Page 32
This , therefore , I send , to propose and desire an acquaintance with you ; and I
do not doubt , notwithstanding my repeated ill fortune , but we may be
exceedingly serviceable to each other in our discoveries ; and that if we use our
united ...
This , therefore , I send , to propose and desire an acquaintance with you ; and I
do not doubt , notwithstanding my repeated ill fortune , but we may be
exceedingly serviceable to each other in our discoveries ; and that if we use our
united ...
Page 34
Men , otherwise of very good sense , have been drawn into this practice , through
an overweening desire of sudden wealth , and an easy credulity of what they so
earnestly wished night be true ; while the rational and almost certain methods of ...
Men , otherwise of very good sense , have been drawn into this practice , through
an overweening desire of sudden wealth , and an easy credulity of what they so
earnestly wished night be true ; while the rational and almost certain methods of ...
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able advantage America appear become better body Britain called carried character clothes colonies common consider continue dear debts desire earth effect employed encourage England equal Europe expense favour Franklin friends give greater hands happiness honour hope hundred increase industry interest judges kind labour land late least leave less liberty live look manner manufactures means meet merchants mind nature necessary never obliged observed occasion opinion pass perhaps persons pleasure poor present produce profit raised reason receive respect rest rich rise ruin shillings ships slaves subjects subsistence suffered sufficient supposed things thought tion trade true virtue whole
Popular passages
Page 79 - 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, ' many a little makes a mickle.' Beware of little expenses ; ' a small leak will sink a great ship...
Page 83 - ... 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 afterwards prosperous. "And now, to conclude, 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other...
Page 155 - I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that "except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it.
Page 75 - ... 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 74 - and neighbors, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might 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...
Page 75 - 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.
Page 157 - It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does ; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded, like those of the builders of Babel ; and that our states are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another's throats. Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution, because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best.
Page 86 - The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees you at a...
Page 76 - Richard say, one today is worth two tomorrows, and farther, have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. 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 75 - He, that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he, that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honour," as poor Richard says: but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve: for, " at the working man's house, hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Bibliographic information
| Title | Essays and Letters, Volumes 1-2 British prose writers Essays and Letters, Benjamin Franklin |
| Author | Benjamin Franklin |
| Publisher | John Sharpe, 1820 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 8 Dec 2006 |
| Length | 340 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |