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    Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims
    Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims
    Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims
    Ebook178 pages2 hours

    Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims

    By Benjamin Franklin and William Penn

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    Witty, wise, and elegant in their simplicity, the timeless adages in this inspiring volume originated with two influential figures of early American history. Franklin’s Way to Wealth began as a preface to Poor Richard’s Almanack, the popular book of advice by Benjamin Franklin, the beloved founding father. Penn’s Maxims features hundreds of observations by the Quaker leader, William Penn, who founded the colony of Pennsylvania. Both offer enduring counsel on how to live — both materially and spiritually.
    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDover Publications
    Release dateJul 12, 2012
    ISBN9780486146522
    Franklin's Way to Wealth and Penn's Maxims
    Author

    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

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