Benjamin Franklin

“ He pays, indeed, says I, too much for his whistle.
If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow- citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth: Poor man, says I, you do indeed pay too much for your whistle.
When I meet a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune to mere corporeal sensations ; Mistaken man, says I, you are providing pain for yourself instead of pleasure ; you give too much for your whistle. ”

“ 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; for, "Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them,” says poor Richard. What tho' 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 sluggard's sleep,
And you will have corn to sell and to keep,"
says poor Dick. ”

“ Work while it is called to-day; for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow ; which makes poor Richard say, “One to-day is worth two to-morrows;" and further, “Have you somewhat to do to-morrow, do it 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, as poor Dick says." ”

“ And again, "pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy." 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, " it is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it; " and it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox. ”

“ But however highly this tribe of people may think of themselves, a drunken man is a greater monster than any that is to be fond among all the creatures which God hath made ; as indeed there is no character which appears more despicable and deformed, in the eyes of all reasonable persons, than that of a drunkard. Bonosus, one of our own countrymen, who was addicted to this vice, having set up for a share in the Roman empire, and being defeated in a great battle, hanged himself. ”

“ Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as роог 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 labour? No; for, as poor Richard says, “Troubles spring from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease: Many without labour would live by their own 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 ”

“ Finally, if you are determined to be utterly destroyed, in estate, body, and soul, be a drunkard ; and you will soon know that it is impossible to adopt a more effectual means to accomplish your - end.
Drunkenness expels reason - drowns the memory - defaces beauty - diminishes strength - inflames the blood - causes internal, external, and incurable wounds - is a witch to the senses, a devil to the soul, a thief to the purse - the beggar's companion, a wife's wo, and children's sorrow - makes a strong man weak, and a wise man a fool. ”

“ Again, poor Richard says, "It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance;" and yet this folly is practised every day at auctions, for want of minding the almanack. “Wise men (as poor Dick says) learn by others harms, fools scarcely by their own.” Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly and half starved their families. ”

“ These are not the necessaries of life, they can scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them? The artificial wants of mankind thus become more numerous than the natural and, as poor Dick says, “For one poor person, there are a hundred indigent."
By these and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing ”

“ He is worse than a beast, and is a self-murderer, who drinks to others good health, and robs himself of his own.
What is it that saps the morals of youth - kills the germ of generous ambition - desolates the domestic hearth - renders families fatherless - digs dishonoured graves? ”

“ 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 commissiouer 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 helps themselves,"
as poor Richard says in his Almanack.
It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service ”

“ Oh ! that men should put an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains."
Shakspeare. "All the enemies on the earth do not destroy so many of the human race, nor alienate so much property as drunkenness." ”

“ No vices are so incurable as those in which men are apt to glory. One would wonder how drunkenness should have the good fortune to be of this number. Anacharsis, being invited to a match of drinking at Corinth, demanded the prize very humourously, because he was drunk before any of the rest of the company ; for, says he, when we run a race, he who arrives at the goal first is entitled to the reward ”

“ Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not have much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for, as poor Richard says,
"Women and wine, game and deceit,
Make the wealth small, and the wants great."
And further, “What mantains one vice would bring up two children." You may think, perhaps, that 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 meikle ”

“ So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful.
A man, may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, “ keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last." “A fat kitchen makes a lean will,” as poor Richard says ; and,
"Many estates are spent in the getting;
Since women forsook spinning and knitting.
And men for punch, forsook hewing and splitting."
"If you would be wealthy, (says he, in another almanack,) think of saving, as well as of getting ”

“ He means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says,
"Many have been ruined by buying good penny-worths." ”