Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims
By Benjamin Franklin and William Penn
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About this ebook
In addition to his active role in guiding colonial America to independence, Benjamin Franklin was a shrewd businessman who amassed a substantial personal fortune. His life story offers an ideal example of the application of a successful work ethic. In his treatise, he presents his own tried-and-true attitudes toward money management, with quotable thoughts on the rewards of industry, the perils of debt, and the futility of idleness.
The democratic principles by which William Penn governed Pennsylvania — including complete freedom of religion, fair trials, and a system of elected representatives — were later adopted into the federal constitution. This collection presents hundreds of his sage reflections, ranging from thoughts on government, education, and religion, to meditations on charity, friendship, and patience.
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was an American writer, printer, politician, postmaster, scientist, and diplomat. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin found success at a young age as editor and printer of the Pennsylvania Gazette, a prominent Philadelphia newspaper. From 1732 to 1758, Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack, a popular yearly pamphlet that earned Franklin much of his wealth. An influential Philadelphian, Franklin founded the Academy and College of Philadelphia, which would become the University of Pennsylvania, in 1751. In addition, Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia, as well as the city’s first fire department. As revolutionary sentiment was on the rise in the thirteen colonies, Franklin traveled to London to advocate on behalf of Americans unhappy with British rule, earning a reputation as a skilled diplomat and shrewd negotiator. During the American Revolution, his relationships with French officials would prove essential for the war effort, the success of which depended upon munitions shipments from France. Over the next few decades, he would serve as the first postmaster general of the United States and as governor of Pennsylvania while maintaining his diplomatic duties. A dedicated and innovative scientist, Franklin is credited with important discoveries regarding the nature of electricity, as well as with inventing the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove. A slaveowner for many years, Franklin eventually became an abolitionist. Although he failed to raise the issue during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, he led the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society and wrote essays on the subject of slavery, which he deemed “an atrocious debasement of human nature.”
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Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims - Benjamin Franklin
Bibliographical Note
This Dover edition, first published in 2008, is a republication of the work originally published in 1837 by Daniel & Geo. F. Cooledge, Booksellers, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706–1790.
Franklin’s Way to wealth; and, Penn’s maxims / Benjamin Franklin, William Penn.
Reprint. Originally published: New York : Daniel & Geo. F. Cooledge, 1837. p. cm.
Penn, William, 1644–1718. Some fruits of solitude, in reflections and maxims relating to the conduct of human life.
9780486146522
1. Wealth—Quotations, maxims, etc. 2. Success—Quotations, maxims, etc. 3. Saving and investment. 4. Conduct of life—Early works to 1800. 5. Maxims, American.
HF5386.F6 2007
332.024/01 22
2006050283
Manufactured in the United States of America Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Introduction
ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN FROM AN OLD ONE.
PRO BONO PUBLICO A NEW WAY OF PAYING OLD DEBTS
FRUITS OF SOLITUDE IN REFLECTIONS AND MAXIMS RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF HUMAN LIFE:
Ignorance
Education
Pride
Luxury
Inconsideration
Disappointment and Resignation
Murmuring
Censoriousness
Bonds of Charity
Frugality, or Bounty
Discipline
Industry
Temperance
Apparel
Right Marriage
Avarice
[. . .] Marriage,
Friendship
Qualities of a Friend
Caution and Conduct
Reparation
Rules of Conversation
Eloquence
Temper
Truth
Justice
Secrecy
Complacency
Shifts
Interest
Inquiry
Right Timing
Knowledge
Wit
Obedience to Parents
Bearing
Promising
Fidelity
Master
Servant
Jealousy
Posterity
A Country Life
Art and Project
Industry
Temporal Happiness
Respect
Hazard
Detraction
Moderation
Trick
Passion
Personal Cautions
Balance
Popularity
Privacy
Government
A Private Life
A Public Life
Qualifications
Capacity
Clean Hands
Despatch
Patience
Impartiality
Indifference
Neutrality
A Party
Ostentation
Complete Virtue
Religion
The Right Moralist
The World’s Able Man
The Wise Man
Of the Government of Thoughts
Of Envy
Of Man’s Life
Of Ambition
Of Praise or Applause
Of Conduct in Speech
Union of Friends
On Being Easy in Living
Of Man’s Inconsiderateness and Partiality
Of the Rule of Judging
Of Formality
Of the Mean Notions We Have of God
Of the Benefit of Justice
Of Jealousy
Of State
Of a Good Servant
Of an Immoderate Pursuit of the World
Of the Interest of the Public in Our Estates
The Vain Man
The Conformist
The Obligations of Great Men to Almighty God
Of Refining Upon Other Men’s Actions or Interests
Of Charity
Introduction
This little treatise is much and justly admired, as well as its celebrated and ingenious author; in short, it is to be doubted whether any other work of the kind equal to it ever appeared. It has been repeatedly published, in different sizes; and made its appearance on both sides of the Atlantic. The London copy, from which this is printed, contains the following introduction:
Dr. Franklin, wishing to collect into one piece all the sayings upon the following subjects, which he had dropped in the course of publishing the Almanac, called ‘Poor Richard,’ introduces Father Abraham for this purpose. Hence it is that Poor Richard is so often quoted, and that in the present title he is said to be improved. Notwithstanding the stroke of humor in the concluding paragraph of this address, Poor Richard Saunders and Father Abraham have proved, in America, that they are no common preachers; and shall we, brother Englishmen, refuse good sense and saving knowledge, because it comes from the other side of the water?
Courteous Reader,—
I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I 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, Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?
Father Abraham stood up, and replied, If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short, for ‘a word to the wise is enough,’ as Poor Richard says.
They joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and, gathering around him, he proceeded as follows:—
Friends,
said he, "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 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 diseases, absolutely shortens life.
"‘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.
"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.’ Let us, then, up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so, by diligence, shall we do more with less perplexity. ‘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.
"So what signify wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. ‘Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then, help hands, for I have no lands;’ or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. ‘He that hath a trade, hath an estate; and he that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor,’ 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.’ Nor will the bailiff or constable enter; for ‘industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.’ What enough you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy; ‘Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.’ Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. ‘One to-day is worth two to-morrows,’ as Poor Richard says; and farther, ‘Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do 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, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and benevolent movements. Handle your tools without mittens; remember that ‘The cat in gloves catches no mice,’ as Poor Richard says. It is true, there is much to be done; and, perhaps, you are weak-handed: but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for ‘Constant dropping wears away stone; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.’
"Methinks I hear some of you say, ‘Must a man