Learning from Benjamin Franklin
I recently finished reading Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography and wanted to record some of the more insightful pieces. "He was the first great American- for Washington was twenty-six years younger. He was the only man who signed the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace with England, and the Constitution under which we still live."
Excerpts from Franklin's Autobiography
"I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in the second edition to correct some faults of the first."
"Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they may have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter where I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would bot be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life."
"He drank on, however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for that muddling liquor- an expense I was free from. And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under."
Ben's Code:
- Temperance - Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- Silence - Speak not, but what may benefit other or yourself; avoid trifling conversation
- Order - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- Resolution - Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Frugality - Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- Industry - Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions
- Sincerity - Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- Justice - Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- Moderation - Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- Cleanliness - Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
- Tranquility - Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Chastity - (Curiously empty)
- Humility - Imitate Jesus and Socrates
"I rather approved his giving us good sermons composed by others than bad ones of his own manufacture, though the latter was the practice of our common teachers."
"It is true that, if you can clamber and get to the top of the staircase without using the steps, you will more easily gain them in descending; but certainly, if you begin with the lowest you will with more ease ascend to the top"
"He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged."
"Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur everyday."
"Lost time is never found again, and what we call time enough always prove little enough."
Poor Richard's Proverbs:
"Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and, Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise"
"The cat in gloves catches no mice"
"Many a little make a mickle."
"Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices."
"Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it."
"Don't misinform your doctor or your lawyer."
"He that pursues two hens at once, does not catch one and lets the other go."
"The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise."
"There are no gains without pains."