The more I read about Ben Franklin, the more I like him. I like his philosophy about individuality and community. I like his practical views on religion. And I really like his views on hard work, saving, and living your life as an example for others. He was against government helping those who didn’t attempt to help themselves. Private charity would take care of the truly needy. He distrusted authority. He was cynical and skeptical. He was an anarchist. He was relentless in pursuing the truth. He knew how to use words and ideas to change opinions. He was a revolutionary who was willing to give his life for his country.
He lived in Philadelphia most of his life and published Poor Richard’s Almanack from 1732 until 1758. The Almanack contained the calendar, weather, poems, sayings and astronomical and astrological information that a typical almanac of the period would contain. Franklin also included the occasional mathematical exercise, and the Almanack from 1750 features an early example of demographics. It is chiefly remembered, however, for being a repository of Franklin’s aphorisms and proverbs, many of which live on in American English. These maxims typically counsel thrift and courtesy, with a dash of cynicism.
He founded the college where I am employed. The statue below is just outside the building where I work. I pass it every morning.
A few years ago they were replacing the walkway along Locust Walk and 37th Street. One of the classes donated money to have concrete slabs inserted along the walk with Franklin sayings from his Almanack. Every morning I walk over the saying below and it has inspired me to keep fighting when I’ve thought about shutting TBP down. There is no time to waste. Our kids and grand kids futures depend upon us doing the right thing.
Below are many more witty, wise and sometimes cynical sayings that appeared in Poor Richard’s Almanack over its 25 year publication time. Enjoy.
He’s a fool that makes his doctor his heir.
Eat to live, and not live to eat.
He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.
Where there’s marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.
Necessity never made a good bargain.
There’s more old drunkards than old doctors.
A good example is the best sermon.
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
A Penny saved is Twopence clear.
When the well’s dry we know the worth of water.
The sleeping fox catches no poultry.
The used key is always bright.
He that lives on hope dies fasting.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
He that pursues two hares at once does not catch one and lets the other go.
Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
Kings and bears often worry their keepers.
Haste makes waste.
Make haste slowly.
He who multiplies riches multiplies cares.
He’s a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.
No gains without pains.
Vice knows she’s ugly, so puts on her mask.
The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.
Love your enemies, for they will tell you your faults.
The sting of a reproach is the truth of it.
There’s a time to wink as well as to see.
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
There was never a good knife made of bad steel.
Half the truth is often a great lie.
God helps them that helps themselves.
Grave men are taken by the common people for wise men.
The general foible of mankind is in the pursuit of wealth to no end.
“He that lives on hope dies fasting.”
That’s a great one.
Keep fighting the good fight admin.
Ben was an incredible man. Patriot, inventer, womanizer, philosopher, &TC. Interesting LKF: his son William(illegitimate) was a Loyalist. He spent some time in jail after the Revolution and was eventually exiled to London, where he died.
“He’s a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.”
LOL!
Fortunately ‘Ol Ben was not very successful at concealing his wisdom, so indeed that others could learn from that kindhearted “fool”.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail” Benjamin Franklin
“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid” Benjamin Franklin
Many would be wise to learn from the wisdom of others as well:
“Knowledge will forever govern ignorance and people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” James Madison
“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
“Never spend your money before you have earned it.”
Thomas Jefferson
“Paper is poverty,…it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself” President Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Edward Carrington 1788
“History shows that once an enormous debt has been incurred by a nation, there are only two ways to solve it: one is simply to declare bankruptcy – repudiate the debt. The other is to inflate the currency and thus to destroy the wealth of the ordinary citizen.”
Adam Smith
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your
getting, Get understanding. Proverbs 4:7
Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:15-16
Proverbs 20:10;23
Getting a little wiser yet?
That’s a good sign.
I John 4:6
It is the common fate of the indolent to see their rights become a
prey to the active. The condition upon which God hath given liberty
to man is eternal vigilance; which condition if he break, servitude
is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his
guilt. John Philpot Curran (1750-1817)
Cheers, S. Rex
BB SAYS ADMIN , STOP BEING A PUSSY.FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT LIKE THE REST OF US.IF YOU NEED ANOTHER FRIEND THEN GET ANOTHER CAT.
bb, A dog is man’s best friend. Although sometimes man is not a dog’s best friend:
One economic indicator that doesn’t make the news is the abandoned dog indicator. A few dog owners living in the Antelope Valley, upon finding themselves on the ropes, might believe it is more convenient to abandon their pets out in the desert instead of taking them to the dog pound. It seems easier than paying a surrender fee at the pound. Maybe they can’t afford the dog food or the license renewal fee along with required shots. So it’s one final ride in the family car to drop Fido off in the desert.
Do the owners take a last picture on their cell phone camera? Do they give Fido the last doggie treat before giving him the heave-ho? Does a child cry knowing they will never see their beloved pet again? Does dad think about the coyote who will be making a meal of little Fido?
I have seen all types of dogs abandoned on different occasions, big and small, in the desert by the road; pit bulls, shepherds, Chihuahuas. One afternoon I saw two puppies playing in a shallow ditch at the corner of Avenue I and 120th East, unaware that they had been abandoned. Perhaps they expected their owner to come back for them later when they would surely be hungry. A small puddle of water nearby sufficed to keep them in good spirits as they ran here and there enjoying their carefree day exploring the desert as the afternoon wore on.
A few miles to the north I saw another pair of dogs, full grown, one reddish brown a standard poodle mix, the other a shaggy black mutt. They traveled alongside the road, unsure of which direction to take. They had been abandoned that morning. In the afternoon, the brown dog was lying on the side of the road. The black dog wandered around nearby with no intention of going anywhere, he must have been hungry by then.
Two miles west, a large German shepherd wandered away from the road heading towards one of two houses in the desert.
A mile south a small dog is wandering by the corner. He is a golden color Chihuahua mix with bow legs and small features, he is neither fat nor skinny, obviously had a home up to that day. A silver Honda stops. Behind me a small pickup also pulls over. The dog is afraid and keeps away from the people trying to coax him although he does not run away.
A mile south, a small dog, a long hair dachshund mix is jogging along the blacktop. Someone stops to pick him up. He shies away and refuses any contact. He has 7 miles to go before he gets to any houses but he seems to have an idea where he is going and only a coyote a couple of hours later will stop him.
I recall a Chihuahua that shot across the street in front of my car with the singular purpose of catching up with a car that had just turned the corner. I imagined how I’d feel if my parents had forgotten me in a shopping center when I was a youngster. I believe dogs have emotions such as fear, love, and despair.
No one will know what a dog feels or learns, what he regrets doing or vows to correct. I imagine that the day dogs befriended man and turned their back on freedom, they never expected their sheltered life would one day end where dogs began, out in the wild.
Damn it EC! They don’t have bad programmed into them. They are what they are, good.
EC ,I can tell you really like dogs.Would say more but my smart phone is going insane.bb