2013-20 Benjamin Franklin: Way to Wealth
[ Benjamin Franklin rose from a 17-year-old runaway to a successful printer,
newspaperman, author, inventor, scientist, diplomat, and statesman. His great success came
from living the virtues of frugality and industry, and his life offers us many
invaluable lessons. Let’s dive right into one of the most popular samples of Benjamin Franklin's timeless wisdom, "The Way to Wealth" from his Poor Richard's Almanack. Before that, please read his own introduction:
"In 1732 I first published my Almanac under the name of Richard Saunders; it was continued by me for about twenty-five years, and commonly called Poor Richard's Almanack. I endeavoured to make it both entertaining and useful, and it accordingly came to be in such demand, that I reaped considerable profit from it, vending annually near ten thousand.
And observing that it was generally read, (scarce any neigbbourhood in the province being without it,) I considered it as a proper vehicle for conveying instruction among the common people, who bought scarcely any other books. I therefore filled all the little spaces, that occurred between the remarkable days in the Calendar, with proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing virtue; it being more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly, as (to use here one of those proverbs) It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright" ]
Courteous Reader,
... I stopped my horse lately where a great
number of people were collected at a venue of merchant goods. The hour of 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? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin
the country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us
to?"
Father Abraham stood up, and replied, "If you'd have my advice,
I'll give it you in short, for a word to the wise is
enough, and many
words won't fill a bushel, as Poor
Richard says." They joined
in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as
follows:
"Friends", says he, "and neighbors,
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, in his almanac of 1733.
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, if we reckon
all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is
spent in idle employments or amusements, that amount to nothing."
"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'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."
"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 be 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, as Poor Richard says; 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, as we read in Poor Richard, who adds, drive
thy business, let not that drive thee;
and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy,
wealthy and wise."
"So what signifies wishing and
hoping for better times. We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry
need not wish, as Poor Richard
says, 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."
"And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, he
that hath a trade hath an estate, and he
that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; 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, as Poor Richard says, at
the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff nor the constable enter, for
industry pays debts, while despair encreaseth them, says Poor Richard."
"What though you have found no treasure,
nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, diligence is the
mother of good luck, as Poor Richard
says, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn
to sell and to keep, says Poor Dick."
"Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered
tomorrow, which makes Poor Richard say, one
today is worth two tomorrows;
and farther, have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today. 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, as Poor Dick says. When there is so much to be done for
yourself, your family, your country, and your gracious king, be up by peep of
day; let not the sun look down and say, inglorious here he lies."
"Handle your tools without mittens; remember that the
cat in gloves catches no mice,
as Poor Richard says. 'Tis 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 stones, and by diligence and
patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little
strokes fell great oaks, as Poor Richard
says in his almanac, the year I cannot just now remember."
"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."
"Leisure
is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain,
but the lazy man never; so that, as Poor Richard says, a
life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more comfort
than labor?"
"No, for as Poor Richard says, trouble
springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many without labor
would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock. Whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect: fly pleasures, and they'll follow you. The diligent spinner
has a large shift, and now
I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow, all which is well said by Poor Richard."
"If you would be
wealthy, says he, in another almanac, think
of saving as well as of getting: the Indies have not made Spain rich, because
her outgoes are greater than her incomes.
Away then with your expensive follies, and you will not have so much cause to complain
of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for, as Poor Dick says,
Women
and wine, game and deceit,
Make
the wealth small, and the wants great."
"And farther, 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, who dainties love, shall beggars prove, and
moreover, fools make Feasts, and wise men eat them.
Get
what you can, and what you get hold;
'Tis
the stone that will turn all your lead into gold,
as Poor Richard says. And when you have
got the philosopher's stone, sure you will no longer complain of bad times, or
the difficulty of paying taxes."
"This doctrine, my friends, is
reason and wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry,
and frugality, and prudence, though excellent 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, and scarce in that, for it is true, we
may give advice, but we cannot give conduct,
as Poor Richard says: however, remember this, they that won't be counseled, can't be helped, as Poor Richard says: and farther, that if
you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your knuckles."
Thus the old gentleman ended his
harangue. The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately
practiced the contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the venue
opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his cautions,
and their own fear of taxes. I found the good man had thoroughly studied my
almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on those topics during the course of
five-and-twenty years.
The frequent mention he made of me must have tired any
one else, but my vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was
conscious that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to
me, but rather the gleanings I had made of the sense of all ages and nations.
However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and though I had at
first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved to wear my
old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be
as great as mine...
I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,
Richard Saunders.
July 7, 1757.
