Friday, September 29, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
What Ben Franklin realized in his early thirties, as expressed below, and taken once again from the 1738 edition of Poor Richard’s Alamanack, is ever more important today:
“Reading makes a full Man, Meditation a profound Man, discourse a clear Man.”
If you agree with the above precepts, would you also agree that perhaps the reason so [...]
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
Wisdom is wisdom in any age, and in the first half of the 18th century, Franklin offered the following in Poor Richard’s Alamnack:
“Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor Liberty to purchase power.”
Benjamin Franklin was, to the extent anyone can be, a virtuous man. He believed doing the right thing was a human being’s obligation, [...]
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
In 1735, Poor Richard’s Almanack offered the following axiom:
“There’s small Revenge in Words, but Words may be greatly revenged.”
Ben Franklin personally believed the above to be true, and strove at all times to choose his words with care. Being human, of course, he failed once in a while, but on the whole, had little to [...]
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
Among the many facets of Franklin’s character, which enabled his life to be as full and worthwhile, perhaps his most important trait was industriousness. He strongly believed living required action:
“The man who does things makes mistakes, but he doesn’t make the biggest mistake of all—doing nothing.”
Although Ben was an Early American “action figure,” he also [...]
Monday, September 25, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
You know about “teaching a man to fish, etc.,” but Ben Franklin had a comparison of his own 250 years ago, which might bring a smile to your face:
“If you teach a poor young man to shave himself, and keep his razor in order, you may contribute more to the happiness of his life than [...]
Friday, September 22, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
Benjamin Franklin was often far away, for months or even years at a time, from his wife, Deborah, during their long marriage. No stretch of distance or time could separate them, however, and his love for her remained:
“Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.”
The above [...]
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
In twenty-five years publishing Poor Richard’s Alamanack, Franklin left a mark to stand the test of time with maxims like this:
“Glass, China, and Reputations, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.”
True then, now and always, although modern times have brought better bonding agents for fixing the former two, and press agents to help heal the [...]
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
Benjamin Franklin, were it not for his tremendous wit, endless curiosity, and tireless ingenuity, might be thought of as a “scold.” Coming from him, however, the vast majority of his advice was usually well received, if not readily applied. Hence the following:
“They that will not be counseled, cannot be helped. If you do not hear [...]
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
It’s Franklin the poet again, today:
“Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade?”
Poor Richard here encourages one and all to strive to make use of their abilities. Through the ages, it appears, some people were wont to coast through life.
Do you think people today are as likely to [...]
Monday, September 18, 2006
Posted by Tim Tyler
Ben Franklin stands among the most frequently quoted people who ever lived, even at times - as in the following excerpt from a letter written in the year before his death in 1790 – by himself:
“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be [...]