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Page 1
... thought in proverbs , which have been denominated the wisdom of nations . His earliest productions , particularly his Poor Richard , abundantly luxuriant in this respect , may be adduced in proof ; and the same quality will be found ...
... thought in proverbs , which have been denominated the wisdom of nations . His earliest productions , particularly his Poor Richard , abundantly luxuriant in this respect , may be adduced in proof ; and the same quality will be found ...
Page 3
... thought of setting up for an author myself : not out of the least vanity , I assure you , or desire of showing my parts , but purely for the good of my country . I have often observed with concern , that your Mercury is not always ...
... thought of setting up for an author myself : not out of the least vanity , I assure you , or desire of showing my parts , but purely for the good of my country . I have often observed with concern , that your Mercury is not always ...
Page 6
... with examining what was the foible , or ridiculous side , of every noted person in the court . That gentleman said afterwards in some company , that he thought nothing was more ridiculous in any body 6 FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS AND LETTERS ,
... with examining what was the foible , or ridiculous side , of every noted person in the court . That gentleman said afterwards in some company , that he thought nothing was more ridiculous in any body 6 FRANKLIN'S ESSAYS AND LETTERS ,
Page 7
Benjamin Franklin. that he thought nothing was more ridiculous in any body , than this same humour in the prince ; and I am somewhat inclined to be of this opinion . The general tendency there is among us to this embel- lishment ...
Benjamin Franklin. that he thought nothing was more ridiculous in any body , than this same humour in the prince ; and I am somewhat inclined to be of this opinion . The general tendency there is among us to this embel- lishment ...
Page 10
... thought he rapped in such a peculiar manner , as seemed of itself to express there was one who de- served as well as desired admission . He appeared in the plainest country garb ; his great coat was coarse , and looked old and ...
... thought he rapped in such a peculiar manner , as seemed of itself to express there was one who de- served as well as desired admission . He appeared in the plainest country garb ; his great coat was coarse , and looked old and ...
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Common terms and phrases
act of parliament advantage America better Britain Busy-Body called clothes colonies continue dæmons dear debts earth employed encourage endeavour England equal Europe expense farther favour February 18 Franklin friends frugality give Glaucon Gout happiness honour Horatio hundred increase industry inhabitants judges kind labour land less liberty live luxury Madeira wine manner manufactures marriages means ment merchants mind Mussulmen nation natural necessary neighbours never obliged observed occasion opinion parliament Pennsylvania Gazette perhaps persons Phil Philocles pleasure poor Richard says present produce profit Province of Pennsylvania provinces Prussia quantity racters raised reason rich ruin self-denial shillings ships slavery slaves Socrates Spain specific gravity stamp act subjects subsistence suffered supposed taxes thee thereby things thou thought tion trade virtue whole wise
Popular passages
Page 74 - God helps them that help themselves,' as poor Richard says. " I. It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service: but idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on
Page 74 - stopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected, at an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain clean old man, with white locks,
Page 101 - filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle that I met by the way in the bands of another boy, I voluntarily offered him all my money for
Page 103 - improvement of the mind or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, " Mistaken man," says I, " you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure : you give too much for your whistle." If I see one fond of appearance, of fine clothes,
Page 19 - of the value of lace. . The importer may demand forty, and perhaps get thirty shillings for that which cost him but twenty. 12. Finally, there seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbours : this is
Page 81 - Would you not say, that you were free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical ? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny, when you run in
Page 113 - and you must be of my opinion. If they met so often to learn good things, they would certainly have learned some before this time. But they are still ignorant. You know our practice. If a white man, in travelling through our country, enters one of our cabins, we all treat him as I do you
Page 77 - II. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as poor Richard says, ' I never saw an oft-removed tree, Nor yet
Page 107 - We are convinced, therefore, that you mean to do us good by your proposal; and we thank you heartily. But you, who are wise, must know that different nations have different conceptions of things ; and you will therefore not take it amiss, if
Page 19 - The second by commerce,which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle wrought by the hand of God in his favour, as a reward for his innocent life, and his virtuous industry. B. FRANKLIN.