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Page 2
They joined in desiring him to speak his mind : and , gathering round binı , he
proceeded as follows : Friends , ' said he , and neighbours , the taxes are indeed
very heavy ; and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to
...
They joined in desiring him to speak his mind : and , gathering round binı , he
proceeded as follows : Friends , ' said he , and neighbours , the taxes are indeed
very heavy ; and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to
...
Page 9
If you cannot pay at the time , you will be ashamed to see your creditor : you will
be in fear when you speak to him ; you will make poor , pitiful , speaking excuses
, and , by degrees , come to lose your veracity , and sink into base downright ...
If you cannot pay at the time , you will be ashamed to see your creditor : you will
be in fear when you speak to him ; you will make poor , pitiful , speaking excuses
, and , by degrees , come to lose your veracity , and sink into base downright ...
Page 10
man ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living . But
Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue : “ It is hard for an empty bag
to stand upright , ” as poor Richard truly says . What would you think of that prince
...
man ought not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living . But
Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue : “ It is hard for an empty bag
to stand upright , ” as poor Richard truly says . What would you think of that prince
...
Page 19
Yet it so happens , that when I speak of this discovery to others , I can easily
perceive by their countenances , tho ' they forbear expressing it in words , that
they do not quite believe me . One , indeed , who is a Jearned natural
philosopher , has ...
Yet it so happens , that when I speak of this discovery to others , I can easily
perceive by their countenances , tho ' they forbear expressing it in words , that
they do not quite believe me . One , indeed , who is a Jearned natural
philosopher , has ...
Page 26
Those who are to be unhappy , think and speak only of the contraries . Hence
they are continually discontented themselves , and , by their remarks , sour the
pleasures of society ; offend personally many people , and make themselves
every ...
Those who are to be unhappy , think and speak only of the contraries . Hence
they are continually discontented themselves , and , by their remarks , sour the
pleasures of society ; offend personally many people , and make themselves
every ...
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham acquaintance advantage Almanack appear attention become better body carry civility cold common consequences considered continually death debt desire dress effect enter expense experience eyes five fortune four friends gain gave give habit hand happy heart hope human hundred idle Indian industry keep kind known less light live look loses manner means meet mind morning move nature necessary never night observe occasion perhaps person piece playing pleased pleasure poor Dick poor Richard says pounds present pride regard Remember rich rise rules saved scarcely sells shew shillings sleep soon soul speak tell thee things thou turned whistle wise wish young
Popular passages
Page 5 - 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 44 - We have had some experience of it: several of our young people were formerly brought up at the colleges of the northern provinces; they were instructed in all your sciences; but when they came back to us, they were bad runners ; ignorant of every means of living in the woods; unable to bear either cold or hunger; knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy ; spoke our language imperfectly; were therefore neither fit for hunters, warriors, or counsellors; they were totally good...
Page 2 - 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...
Page 7 - What maintains one Vice, would bring up two Children. "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 what Poor Richard says, Many a Little makes a Mickle; and farther, Beware of little Expenses; A small Leak will sink a great Ship; and again.
Page 44 - We are, however, not the less obliged by your kind offer, though we decline accepting it; and to show our grateful sense of it, if the gentlemen of Virginia will send us a dozen of their sons, we will take great care of their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them.
Page 9 - And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece ; but Poor Dick says, It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.
Page 11 - 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 afterwards prosperous. And now to conclude, Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other...
Page 43 - 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...
Page 3 - 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'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 44 - Treaties a hundred Years back, which when we compare with our Writings we always find exact. He that would speak, rises. The rest observe a profound Silence. When he has finished...
Bibliographic information
| Title | Select Pieces |
| Author | Benjamin Franklin |
| Publisher | G. Nicholson, 1804 |
| Original from | the New York Public Library |
| Digitized | 15 Nov 2006 |
| Length | 59 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |