The CDPD Public Domain Collection for CDTV 3/CDPDIII.bin/books/franklin/1749

Text File | 1992-07-31 | 12KB | 277 lines

        _Poor Richard Improved_
        1749

        Wealth and Content are not always Bed-fellows.

        Wise Men learn by others harms; Fools by their own.
                                 ______

        On the 7th of this month 1692 died _Robert Boyle_, Esq; one of
the greatest philosophers the last age produced.  He first brought
the machine called an _Airpump_, into use; by which many of the
surprizing properties of that wonderful element were discovered and
demonstrated.  His knowledge of natural history, and skill in
chymistry, were very great and extensive; and his piety inferior to
neither.

                 ------ BOYLE, _whose pious search
                 Amid the dark recesses of his works
                 The great_ CREATOR _sought:_ ------ Thomson.

         is therefore an instance, that tho' _Ignorance_ may in some be the
_Mother of Devotion_, yet true learning and exalted piety are by no means
inconsistent.
                                 ______

        When we read in antient history of the speeches made by
generals to very numerous armies, we sometimes wonder how they could
be well heard; but supposing the men got together so close, that each
took up no more ground than two foot in breadth, and one in depth,
45000 might stand in a space that was but 100 yards square, and 21780
on a single acre of ground.  There are many voices that may be heard
at 100 yards distance.
                                 ______

        The end of Passion is the beginning of Repentance.

        _Words_ may shew a man's Wit, but _Actions_ his Meaning.
                                 ______

        On the 18th of this month, _anno_ 1546 died that famous
reformer, LUTHER: who struck the great blow to papal tyranny in
_Europe._ He was remarkably _temperate_ in meat and drink, sometimes
fasting four days together; and at other times, for many days eating
only a little bread and a herring.  _Cicero_ says, _There was never
any_ great _man who was not an_ industrious _man_; to which may,
perhaps, be added, _There was never any_ industrious _man who was not
a_ temperate _man_: For intemperance in diet, abates the vigour and
dulls the action both of mind and body.
                                 ______

                                           OF SOUND.
        Mr. _Flamstead_, Dr. _Halley_ and Mr. _Derham_, agree that
sound moves 1142 feet in a second, which is one _English_ mile in 4
seconds and 5 8ths; that it moves in the same time in every different
state of the atmosphere; that winds hardly make any difference in its
velocity; that a languid or loud sound moves with the same velocity;
and that different kinds of sounds, as of bells, guns, &c. have the
same velocity, and are equally swift in the beginning as end of their
motion.
                                 ______

        'Tis a well spent penny that saves a groat.

        Many Foxes grow grey, but few grow good.

        Presumption first blinds a Man, then sets him a running.
                                 ______

        The nose of a lady here, is not delighted with perfumes that
she understands are in _Arabia._ Fine musick in _China_ gives no
pleasure to the nicest ear in _Pennsilvania._ Nor does the most
exquisite dish serv'd up in _Japan_, regale a luxurious palate in any
other country.  But the benevolent mind of a virtuous man, is
pleas'd, when it is inform'd of good and generous actions, in what
part of the world soever they are done.
                                 ______

        A cold April,
        The Barn will fill.

        Content makes poor men rich; Discontent makes rich Men poor.

        Too much plenty makes Mouth dainty.
                                 ______

        On the 7th of this month, 1626, died that _great little_ man,
Sir FRANCIS BACON; _great_ in his prodigious genius, parts and
learning; and _little_, in his servile compliances with a _little_
court, and submissive flattery of a _little_ prince.  _Pope_
characterises him thus, in one strong line;

        _If Parts allure thee, think how_ BACON _shin'd,
        The wisest, brightest, meanest of mankind._

        He is justly esteem'd the father of the modern experimental
philosophy.  And another poet treats him more favourably, ascribing
his blemishes to a wrong unfortunate choice of his way of Life;

        ------ BACON, hapless in his choice,
        Unfit to stand the civil storm of state,
        And thro' the smooth barbarity of courts,
        With firm, but pliant virtue, forward still
        To urge his course.  Him for the studious shade
        Kind nature form'd, deep, comprehensive, clear,
        Exact, and elegant; in one rich soul,
        PLATO, the STAGYRITE, and TULLY join'd.
        The great deliverer he! who from the gloom
        Of cloister'd monks, and jargon-teaching schools,
        Led forth the true Philosophy, there long
        Held in the magic chain of words and forms,
        And definitions void: He led her forth,
        Daughter of HEAV'N! that slow ascending still,
        Investigating sure the chain of things,
        With radiant finger points to HEAV'N again.

        If _Passion_ drives, let _Reason_ hold the Reins.

        Neither trust, nor contend, nor lay wagers, nor lend;
        And you'll have peace to your Lives end.

        _Drink_ does not drown _Care_, but waters it, and makes it grow
faster.

        Who dainties love, shall Beggars prove.
                                 ______

        On the 27th anno 1564, died at _Geneva_ that famous reformer,
Mr. _John Calvin_, A man of equal _temperance_ and _sobriety_ with
_Luther_, and perhaps yet greater _industry_.  His lectures were
yearly 186, his sermons yearly 286; he published besides every year
some great volume in folio; to which add his constant employments, in
governing the church, answering letters from all parts of the
reformed world, from pastors, concerning doubts, or asking ocunsel,
_&c. &c._ He ate little meat, and slept but very little; and as his
whole time was filled up with useful action, he may be said to have
_lived_ lon, tho' he died at _55_ years of age; since _sleep_ and
_sloth_ can hardly be called _living._
                                 ______

        A Man has no more _Goods_ than he gets Good by.

        Welcome, Mischief, if thou comest alone.

        Different Sects like different clocks, may be all near the
matter, 'tho they don't quite agree.
                                 ______

        On the 15th of this month, anno 1215, was _Magna Charta_ sign'd
by King _John_, for declaring and establishing _English Liberty._
                                 ______

        It was wise counsel given to a young man, _Pitch upon that
course of life which is most excellent, and_ CUSTOM _will make it the
most delightful._ But many pitch on no course of life at all, nor
form any scheme of living, by which to attain any valuable end; but
wander perpetually from one thing to another.

        Hast thou not yet propos'd some certain end,
        To which thy life, thy every act may tend?
        Hast thou no mark at which to bend thy bow?
        Or like a boy pursu'st the carrion crow
        With pellets and with stones, from tree to tree,
        A fruitless toil, and liv'st _extempore_?
        Watch the disease in time: For when, within
        The dropsy rages, and extends the skin,
        In vain for helebore the patient cries,
        And sees the doctor, but too late is wise:
        Too late for cure, he proffers half his wealth;
        Ten thousand doctors cannot give him health.
        Learn, wretches, learn the motions of the mind,
        Why you were mad, for what you were design'd,
        And the great _moral end_ of human kind.
        Study thy self; what rank or what degree,
        The wise creator has ordain'd for thee:
        And all the offices of that estate,
        Perform, and with thy prudence guide thy fate.
                        ______

        If your head is wax, don't walk in the Sun.

        _Pretty_ & _Witty_,
        will wound if they hit ye.

        Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.

        Tis a laudable Ambition, that aims at being better than his
Neighbours.

        The wise Man draws more Advantage from his Enemies, than the
Fool from his Friends.
                                 ______

        PRIDE is said to be the _last_ vice the good man gets clear of.
'Tis a meer _Proteus_, and disguises itself under all manner of
appearances, putting on sometimes even the mask of _humility._ If
some are proud of neatness and propriety of dress; others are equally
so of despising it, and acting the perpetual sloven.
                                 _______

        All would live long, but none would
be old.

        Declaiming against Pride, is not always a Sign of Humility.

        Neglect kills Injuries, Revenge increases them.

        9 Men in 10 are suicides.

        _Doing_ an Injury puts you below your Enemy; _Revenging_ one
makes you but _even_ with him; _Forgiving_ it sets you _above_ him.

        Most of the Learning in use, is of no great Use.

        Great Good-nature, without Prudence, is a great Misfortune.

        Keep Conscience clear,
        Then never fear.

        A Man in a Passion rides a mad Horse.

        Reader farewel, all Happiness attend thee;
        May each New-Year, better and richer find thee.
                                 ______

        On the 25th of this month, _anno_ 1642, was born the great Sir
ISAAC NEWTON, prince of the modern astronomers and philosophers.  But
what is all our little boasted knowledge, compar'd with that of the
angels?  If they see our actions, and are acquainted with our
affairs, our whole body of science must appear to them as little
better than ignorance; and the common herd of our learned men, scarce
worth their notice.  Now and then one of our very great philosophers,
an _Aristotle_, or a _Newton_, may, perhaps, by his most refined
speculations, afford them a little entertainment, as it seems a
mimicking of their own sublime amusements.  Hence _Pope_ says of the
latter,

                 _Superior beings, when of late they saw
                 A mortal man unfold all nature's law,
                 Admir'd such wisdom in a human shape,
                 And shew'd a_ Newton, _as we shew an ape._
                                 ______

        How to get RICHES.

        The Art of getting Riches consists very much in THRIFT.  All Men
are not equally qualified for getting Money, but it is in the Power
of every one alike to practise this Virtue.

        He that would be beforehand in the World, must be beforehand
with his Business: It is not only ill Management, but discovers a
slothful Disposition, to do that in the Afternoon, which should have
been done in the Morning.

        Useful Attainments in your Minority will procure Riches in
Maturity, of which Writing and Accounts are not the meanest.

        Learning, whether Speculative or Practical, is, in Popular or
Mixt Governments, the Natural Source of Wealth and Honour.

        PRECEPT I.
        In Things of moment, on thy self depend,
        Nor trust too far thy Servant or thy Friend:
        With private Views, thy Friend may promise fair,
        And Servants very seldom prove sincere.

        PRECEPT II.
        What can be done, with Care perform to Day,
        Dangers unthought-of will attend Delay;
        Your distant Prospects all precarious are,
        And Fortune is as fickle as she's fair.

        PRECEPT III.
        Nor trivial Loss, nor trivial Gain despise;
        Molehills, if often heap'd, to Mountains rise:
        Weigh every small Expence, and nothing waste,
        Farthings long sav'd, amount to Pounds at last.