Friends of Honors English 10, we've been studying
Benjamin Franklin and the Age of Reason as catalysts of the American Revolution. Franklin's aphorisms published in
Poor Richard's Almanack voiced some of these stirrings. Enjoy!
There are no gains without
pains.
Speak
little, do much.
If you would be loved, love
and be loveable.
Who is wise? He that learns
from everyone.
Who is powerful? He that governs his passions.
Who is rich? He
that is content.
Who is that? Nobody.
At the working man’s house
hunger looks in but dares not enter.
Industry pays debts while
despair increases them.
Diligence is the mother of
good luck.
God gives all things to
industry.
Plough deep while sluggards
sleep and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
Work while it is called
today for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow.
One today is worth two
tomorrows.
What maintains one vice
would bring up two children.
Fools make feasts and wise
men eat them.
He that
lives upon hope will die fasting.
He that has a trade has an
estate.
The noblest question in the
world is What good may I do in it?
Sell not virtue to purchase
wealth nor liberty to purchase power.
Nothing brings more pain
than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.
Wink at small faults;
remember thou hast great ones.
Each year one vicious habit
rooted out, In time might make the worst man good throughout.
Hear no ill of a friend,
nor speak any of an enemy.
Many a man thinks he is
buying pleasure when he is really selling himself a slave to it.
Having been poor is no
shame; but being ashamed of it is.
