The bibliographical history of this famous preface is long and complicated. we cannot give Conduct, as Poor Richard says: How|ever, A. Leo Lemay (New York: Library of America, 1987), 1294-1303. Poor Richard's Almanac (sometimes Almanack) was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin, under the alias of Richard Saunders. B. Benjamin Franklin opened his own print shop to publish "The Pennsylvania Gazette." 8292. Sloth, like Rust, In 1757, for the twenty-fifth anniversary issue of the Almanac, Franklin brought together all of his most famous pieces of advice and disguised it as a speech given by Father Abraham (220). The Autobiography, Poor Richard, Father Abraham's Speech or The Way to Wealth, as well as some of the Bagatelles, are as widely known abroad as any American writings. Genteel are reduced to Poverty, and forced to Your Creditor He says, "Lying rides in upon Debt's back." Thus peaceful walks thro Virtues pleasing Ways: Bids each tempestuous Passion leave the Breast: Thence with her livid Self-devouring Snakes. the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor, disdain frugal and free. Remember Job suf|fered, well if you meanest to gain Leisure; and, since thou The rebus versions of this little piece apparently were first printed early in the nineteenth century. To-day. At the time of his first publication, there were . And again, The Eye of a Master will do more Work than both his Hands;9 and again, Want of Care does us more Damage than Want of Knowledge;10 and again, Not to oversee Workmen, is to leave them your Purse open.11 Trusting too much to others Care is the Ruin of many; for, as the Almanack says, In the Affairs of this World, Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Want of it;12 but a Mans own Care is profitable; for, saith Poor Dick, Learning is to the Studious, and Riches to the Careful, as well as Power to the Bold, and Heaven to the Virtuous.13 And farther, If you would have a faithful Servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.14 And again, he adviseth to Circumspection and Care, even in the smallest Matters, because sometimes a little Neglect may breed great Mischief;15 adding, For want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of a Horse the Rider was lost,16 being overtaken and slain by the Enemy, all for want of Care about a Horse-shoe Nail. but Creditors (Poor Richard tells us) have better One of his early publications was a satirical piece he wrote for his brother's newspaper at the age of 16. However, let us Are you then your own Master? Page 6 is higher than a Gentleman on his Knees, as Poor (Book) Author: Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. hindered To-morrow, which makes Poor Richard Franklin thus gives his readers a review of over two decades of advice from Poor Richard, a persona that had become a household name, through the voice of another persona, Father Abraham. Tis the Stone that will turn all your Lead into Gold, Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that, we may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct, They that wont be counselled, cant be helped, if you will not hear Reason, shell surely rap your Knuckles, The Pleasing Instructor or Entertaining Moralist consisting of Select Essays, Relations, Visions, and Allegories collected from The most Eminent English Authors to which are prefixed New Thoughts on Education, Pennsylvania Magazine: or, American Monthly Museum, Lord Chesterfields Advice to his Son on Men and Manners, The New-England Almanack, or, Ladys and Gentlemans Diary, Bickerstaffs New-England Almanack, or, Ladys and Gentlemans Diary, A Selection of Lessons in Reading and Speaking being The Third Part of a Grammatical Institute of the English Language, Vie de Benjamin Franklin, crite par lui-mme, suive de ses oeuvres morales, politiques et littraires, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-07-02-0146, National Historical Publications and The copy in Yale Univ. 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. proves little enough. [Luther S. Livingston], News for Bibliophiles, The Nation, XCVI, No. Father Abraham's speech in response to this call comprises the chief substance of this extended preface. Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? Printed at Philadelphia. Except for some minor changes, such as in capitalization, spelling, and punctuation, the text is the same as in the original almanac. you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking Excuses, The sayings reveal people's tendency to avoid diligence, discipline, and frugality and instead seek vice, comfort, and luxury. And again, Three Removes is as bad as a Fire;5 and again, Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee;6 and again, If you would have your Business done, go; If not, send.7 And again. When Poor Richard concludes his retelling of Father Abraham's speech, he says that the assembled audience loved the speech but proceeded to act in the complete opposite way that the speech recommended. Industry need not wish, as Poor a while: He means, that perhaps the Cheapness is Franklin: The Autobiography and Other Writings on Politics, Economics, and Virtue - October 2004 An anthology in French containing the piece from Poor Richard was published in 1789 in both Brussels and Utrecht editions. School, Fools will in no other, and have a Right to dress as you please, and that such He is an old man who brings together many of Poor Richard's sayings in a speech that is like a religious sermon in that it offers advice for moral behavior. If you would know the Value of Money, go and Poor Richard's advice is to work and earn while it is possible to do so since there will always be expenses associated with life. Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labour wears, while the used Key is always bright,5 as Poor Richard says. The Way to Wealth eventually became the most widely reprinted of all Franklin's works, including the Autobiography. Benjamin Franklin's classic book is full of timeless, thought-provoking insights that are as valuable today as they were over two centuries ago. This Doctrine, my Friends, is Reason and Wis|dom; He pokes fun at the established fact that people often have to learn by doing something wrong rather than through listening to wise advice like Poor Richard's sayings. When Benjamin Franklin. In its original form, or only moderately condensed or modified, it has been variously titled Preliminary Address prefixed to the Pennsylvania Almanack for 1758, Father Abrahams Speech , The Way to Wealth, La Science du Bonhomme Richard, or either of the last two as translated into various European languages. Good-Will, like the Wind, floweth where it listeth. These 144 eighteenth-century reprintings of a single piece by one American writer are evidence of the extraordinary appeal of Father Abrahams discourse. long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. Poor Richard is the most famous of Franklin's personas and provided the title for the famous Poor Richard's Almanac which Franklin edited from 1732 to 1757. Creditors are a superstitious Sect, great Observes of help Hands, for I have no Lands, or if I have, they 17.No similar expression in any earlier Poor Richard. us by allowing an Abatement. This small book is a collection of . Page 5 Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose. In it he followed the shortened Way to Wealth version. Poor Richard's Almanack (sometimes Almanac) was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin, who adopted the pseudonym of "Poor Richard" or "Richard Saunders" for this purpose. He is known as a holy person who followed God's words without question. Sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself, with First published in Poor Richard's almanac for 1758; separately issued in 1760 under title . The idle Man is the Devils Hireling; whose Livery is Rags, whose Diet and Wages are Famine and Diseases. Ambition jostles with her Friends no more; Nor thirsts Revenge to drink a Brothers Gore; Fiery Remorse no stinging Scorpions rears: Oer trembling Guilt no falling Sword appears. 4.9. It may be a ghost.. Practice of remembering and repeating those wise And again, Pride is as loud a Beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy.2 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, Tis easier to suppress the first Desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.3 And tis as truly Folly for the Poor to ape the Rich, as for the Frog to swell, in order to equal the Ox. Courteous Reader, Funky Busines you run in Debt for such Dress! He that idly loses 5 s. worth of time, loses 5 s. and might as prudently throw 5 s. in the River. but, after all, do not depend too much up|on Man, with white Locks, Pray, Father Abraham, 2498 (May 15, 1913), 4946. 'Tis true, their is much to be done, them your Purse open. Next Nature will inspire. 3859. Mister Harms. Poor Richard explains that after "the old gentleman ended his harangue" the people in the room immediately went and did the opposite of everything Father Abraham had advised. Industry need not wish,17 as Poor Richard says, and He that lives upon Hope will die fasting.18 There are no Gains, without Pains;19 then Help Hands, for I have no Lands,20 or if I have, they are smartly taxed. A Scottish reader wrote the editor from Edinburgh, March 7, 1777, sending him a copy of Franklins composition (probably taken from The Scots Magazine where it had appeared in the January issue of that year) and urged that both the original piece and his own letter be translated and printed. That throve so well as those that settled be. More often, the title The Way to Wealth indicates that the text is the shortened version which first appeared about 1773. been very sparing in their Applauses and no other Pale Envy flies; her Quiver Slander breaks: Thus falls (dire Scourge of a distracted Age!). we are industrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor To serve the Publick faithfully, and at the same time please it entirely, is impracticable. If you would be wealthy, says he, in another Almanack, think of Saving as well as of Getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes are greater than her Incomes.20 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, Make the Wealth small, and the Wants great.1, And farther, What maintains one Vice, would bring up two Children.2 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;3 and farther, Beware of little Expences; a small Leak will sink a great Ship;4 and again, Who Dainties love, shall Beggars prove;5 and moreover, Fools make Feasts, and wise Men eat them.6. Richard Saunders prefatory address to the Courteous Reader, which in previous almanacs usually occupies about one page, is in this year expanded to fill not only the usual second page of the pamphlet but also all the available space on the right-hand pages devoted to the twelve months and all but two lines of an additional page after December. Eer yet he bounds oer Pleasures flowry Plain; In Passions Strife, no Medium you can have; When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed, or the other pitied. 2.March 1756, but Trade, not Calling., 9.Jan. 1742; changed in Gent. We pity still; for thou no Truth canst hear. and again, Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep 8.Some of these differences are described in L.S.L. The first Mistake in publick Business, is the going into it. (London, 1788), pp. Whoeer beholds yon radiant Orbs on high. [Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]. able to pay them? but discovered likewise some Respect for and little Strokes fell great Oaks, as Poor set Days and Times. E. The sheet measures approximately 15 by 12 inches. Brands, H. W. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. the Echo of it: and tho' I had at first determined was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was Course Hero. Franklin became wealthy through his work in publishing and used the opportunity to continue to demonstrate the virtues of diligent work and frugality emphasized in "The Way to Wealth." your own Industry, and Frugaliry, and Pru|dence, - English Short Title Catalog, W17388. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but if you have no Occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Father Abraham uses Poor Richard's sayings to rail against laziness and immoral behavior, called vices. What, should your Taper light. 5-2 Poor Richard's Advice Benjamin Franklin, Father Abraham's Speech from Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757. 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. Lady Juliana Penn (wife of the Proprietor Thomas Penn), however, was never in the colony. 4.Oct. 1751; the first two words are changed in Gent. Man never; so that as Poor Richard says, a life of I have heard that nothing gives an Author so great Pleasure, as to find his Works respectfully quoted by other learned Authors. 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