Benjamin Franklin is the only person that appears on two circulating U.S. currencies. His portrait is on the front of the $100.00 bill and he appears in a painting depicting the Signing of the Declaration of Independence that is on the back of the $2.00 bill.
Many aspects of his life are still being written about in specialized biographies. One such new book is Benjamin Franklin in London by George Goodwin that I just finished reading which is an interesting and somewhat detailed account of the 18 years he lived in London through three voyages. Rather than review his life there I would like to repeat some of his numerous adages, many of which appeared in his Poor Richard’s Almanac over a 25 year period. Note that his advice was practical and profitable as he earned his living as a self-employed businessman and was able to retire at the age of 42. He spent the next 42 years of his life in non-business pursuits such as giving us the theory of electricity, helping to create the United States of America and inventing bifocals among many other activities.
- DILIGENCE IS THE MOTHER OF GOOD-LUCK.
- DO NOT DO THAT WHICH YOU WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN.
- HE THAT CAN HAVE PATIENCE CAN HAVE WHAT HE WILL.
- THE ROTTEN APPLE SPOILS HIS COMPANION.
- DON’T THROW STONES AT YOUR NEIGHBORS, IF YOUR OWN WINDOWS ARE GLASS.
- HE THAT SPEAKS MUCH IS MUCH MISTAKEN.
- CREDITORS HAVE BETTER MEMORIES THAN DEBTORS.
- HE THAT WOULD LIVE IN PEACE & AT EASE, MUST NOT SPEAK ALL HE KNOWS, NOR JUDGE ALL HE SEES.
- REMEMBER THAT TIME IS MONEY.
- HE THAT RISETH LATE, MUST TROT ALL DAY TO CATCH UP.
- LOST TIME IS NEVER FOUND AGAIN.
- YOU MAY DELAY, BUT TIME WILL NOT.
- LET THY DISCONTENTS BE SECRETS.
- THREE MAY KEEP A SECRET, IF TWO OF THEM ARE DEAD.
- LITTLE STROKES FELL GREAT OAKS.
- THE EYE OF A MASTER WILL DO MORE WORK THAN BOTH HIS HANDS.
- NOT TO OVERSEE WORKMEN, IS TO LEAVE THEM YOUR PURSE OPEN.
- WANT OF CARE DOES US MORE DAMAGE THAN WANT OF KNOWLEDGE.
- BEWARE OF LITTLE EXPENSES; A SMALL LEAK WILL SINK A GREAT SHIP.
- WHAT MAINTAINS ONE VICE WOULD BRING UP TWO CHILDREN.
- IF YOU WOULD KNOW THE VALUE OF MONEY, GO AND TRY TO BORROW SOME.
- FOR 6£ A YEAR, YOU MAY HAVE USE OF 100£ IF YOU ARE A MAN OF KNOWN PRUDENCE AND HONESTY.
- WOMEN AND WINE, GAME AND DECEIT, MAKE THE WEALTH SMALL, AND THE WANTS GREAT.
- CREDITORS ARE A SUPERSTITIOUS SECT; GREAT OBSERVERS OF SET DAYS AND TIMES.
- A LITTLE NEGLECT MAY BREED GREAT MISCHIEF; 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, BEING OVERTAKEN AND SLAIN BY THE ENEMY, ALL FOR WANT OF CARE ABOUT A HORSE-SHOE NAIL.
Enjoy! And try to heed some of this pithy advice.
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