It consists of the selection and careful arrangement in a connected discourse of approximately one hundred of the aphorisms and maxims contained in the earlier Poor Richard almanacs. conscious that not a tenth Part of the Wisdom was Are you then your own Master, be ashamed to catch yourself idle,10 as Poor Dick says. Although most of the proverbs and maxims it contains may already have been familiar in one form or another in several languages, Franklins method of bringing them together into a single related series gave them added force and impact and created what is undoubtedly the worlds best-known homily on industry, financial prudence, and thrift. 6.A possible reference to the levies imposed in Pennsylvania and other colonies to meet the costs of the current war. To serve the Publick faithfully, and at the same time please it entirely, is impracticable. 41621 passim. At present perhaps you may think Shelf locator: *KD 1760 (Franklin, B. you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking Excuses, preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources, relating to the history of All the first two paragraphs after the opening sentence were omitted as were a few of Father Abrahams own comments at various points. The narrator is Poor Richard, also known as Richard Saunders. And farther, If you would have a faithful Poor Richard's Almanack Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. Richard says, The second Vice is Lying, the first is Make the Wealth small, and the Wants great. 1768 5-4 Advertisements for Runaway Slaves South Carolina Gazette and Virginia Gazette, 1737-1745 This pamphlet appears in three undated issues which differ from each other in several typographical details.8 Probably all three issues were published in London.9 Two other printings with the same, or nearly the same, full title have a London 1774 imprint date and three more, undated, are believed to have been published in that or the next year. Or if you bear your Debt in Mind, the Term which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extreamly short. The piece was repeated in the 1793 edition. Judge then how much I must have been grati|fied In a corrupt Age, the putting the World in order would breed Confusion; then een mind your own Business. Father Abraham's speech in response to this call comprises the chief substance of this extended preface. Would you not say, that you are free, have a Right to dress as you please, and that such an Edict would be a Breach of your Privileges, and such a Government tyrannical? as it shewed not only that my Instructions were re|garded, Thus the old Gentleman ended his Harangue. Care, even in the smallest Matters, because some|times But Idleness taxes many This gave me some Satisfaction, them; but we have many others, and much more fill a Bushel, as Poor Richard says. Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy Profit will be as great as mine. Father Abraham's Speech or, The Way to Wealth Hardcover - January 1, 2000 by Benjamin (from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1758) Franklin (Author) See all formats and editions Hardcover $6.47 1 New from $6.47 Publisher The American Philosophical Society Publication date January 1, 2000 See all details Product details ASIN : B001LIGH3E What, should your Taper light. The Friend at least demands the second Place. Tis now the Time young Passion to command. Times. Fond Pride of Dress, is sure a very Curse; Eer Fancy you consult, consult your Purse.1. We are offered, by the Terms of this Vendue, Six Months Credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready Money, and hope now to be fine without it. Study the wit and wisdom of Ben Franklin by analyzing and explaining 18 different quotes from his writings. in that; or it is true, We may give Advice, And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, He that hath a Trade hath an Estate,1 and He that hath a Calling hath an Office of Profit and Honour;2 but then the Trade must be worked at, and the Calling well followed, or neither the Estate, nor the Office, will enable us to pay our Taxes. It cannot promote Health, or ease Pain; it makes no Increase of Merit in the Person, it creates Envy, it hastens Misfortune. or to sell you for a Servant, if you should not be If you were a Servant, would you not be every Day at Vendues, for want of mining BF landed at Falmouth about three weeks before this packet sailed. Poor Richard describes a recent encounter with a group of people at an auction who were complaining about how high the taxes were. The copy in Yale Univ. Abraham is considered the father of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam which are all monotheistic religions, or religions that believe in one God. that Prince, or that Government, who should issue observes, He that hath a Trade hath an Estate, and He thats content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much. He only received two years of formal education, one in a school and one with a private tutor. It is not surprising that the Franklin legend came very early to include the idea that he was the apostle of industry and thrift.5, The first known reprinting of the preface was in Boston, issued by Franklins nephew Benjamin Mecom. No copy of a 1770 New Haven issue of the speech has been located. Added 5/5/2021 6:37:24 AM Debt in Mind, the Term which at first seemed so and such a Government tyrannical? It may be a ghost.. I concluded at length, that the People were the Benjamin Franklin often used personas, or characters who represent the voice of the author, in his work. Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris for the Year of our Lord 1758: Father Abrahams Speech To a great Number of People, at a Vendue of Merchant Goods; Introduced to The Publick By Poor Richard, A famous Pennsylvanian Conjurer and Almanack-Maker, The Grand Magazine of Universal Intelligence, The Pleasing Instructor or Entertaining Moralist, The Way to Wealth, as Clearly Shewn in the Preface of An old Pennsylvania Almanack, intitled Poor Richard Improved, Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces, Courier de lEurope, Gazette Anglo-Franoise, La Science du Bonhomme Richard, ou moyen facile de payer les impts, The Way to Wealth or Poor Richard Improved by Benj. are about to put yourself under that Tyranny, when During the 1780s and 1790s printings in England, Scotland, and Ireland were too numerous to warrant individual mention here. Names Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 (Author) Mecom, Benjamin, 1732-approximately 1776 (Publisher) Collection. Father Abraham stood up and reply'd, If you'd : La science du fonhomme Richard ou Moyen facile de payer les impots. (Phila., 1787), pp. Good-Will, like the Wind, floweth where it listeth. Father Abraham's speech to a great number of people, at a vendue of merchant-goods introduced to the public by Poor Richard, a famous conjurer and almanack-maker, in answer to the following questions: Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? says) put out the Kitchen fire. Memories than Debtors; and in another Place says, First published in Poor Richard's almanac for 1758; separately issued in 1760 under title "Fther Abraham's speech", and frequently reprinted under title "The way to wealth." Shaw & Shoemaker, 6327. 12) Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris for the Year1758. John E. Alden, ed., Rhode Island Imprints 17271800 (N.Y., 1949), nos. as Poor Richard says, in his Almanack. by an incident I am going to relate to you. A collection of the sayings of Poor Richard, presented in the form of a speech, and variously known as Father Abraham's speech, The way to wealth, and La science du Bonhomme Richard. Avoid, and cast the sullyd Play-thing by; There are, who tossing in the Bed of Vice. The title page indicates that the pamphlet was issued Philadelphie Et se trouve Paris, chez Ruault, Libraire rue de la Harpe, but the mention of the American city was doubtless only a dodge to escape the requirement of a royal license. 7.Dubourgs and other French translations are discussed below. `Felix quem faciunt aliena Pericula cautum Many a Hence just Ambition boundless Splendors crown. 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 are prepared to satisfy it. Dropping wears away Stones, and by Dili|gence Franklin probably sent back the copy for the preface by the Earl of Leicester packet, Captain Morris, which reached New York on September 10 after a fast passage of thirty-three days from Falmouth.2. I s as ever, 3.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. Date of publication supplied by Johnson. Dose for a grown Person Half a Jill, three or four times between the Fits; for a Child of a Year old a Tea Spoonful, mixed with Balm Tea; the Quantity to be increased according to the Age of the Person. Your Creditor has Authority at his Pleasure to deprive you of your Liberty, by confining you in Goal for Life, or to sell you for a Servant, if you should not be able to pay him! Poverty and debt can affect a person's ability to act morally because it is "hard for an empty bag to stand upright." 1.The count includes duplications, where a particular aphorism which Father Abraham used appears in identical or very similar form more than once in the series of almanacs. 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. 191201. In Course Hero. Father Abraham's speech, entitled, The Way To Wealth, was published . Course Hero. From meaner Motives, not for Virtues End. of Taxes.I found the good Man had thoroughly If you cannot pay at The present editors have pursued extended inquiry only to the end of the eighteenth century and their investigations still leave several questions unanswered; some appear to be unanswerable. People were collected at a Vendue of Merchant all which is well said by Poor Richard. Benjamin Franklin, Father Abraham's Speech from Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757 5-3 An Anglican Criticizes New Light Baptists and Presbyterians in the South Carolina Backcountry Charles Woodmason, Sermon on the Baptists and the Presbyterians, ca. "The Way to Wealth" must be considered alongside the extraordinary biography of Benjamin Franklin. There are, who with fond Favours fickle Gale. This first translation of Father Abrahams speech attracted little attention in France. 1768 5-4 Advertisements for Runaway Slaves South Carolina Gazette and Virginia Gazette, 1737-1745 same Way, for what Reason I know not, have ever 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. 12.1734, p. [21], and December 1743, both complete; Feb. 1737, Felix quem, &c. only. Remember what poor Richard says, Buy what thou [Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]. For in another Place he says, Many have been ruined by buying good Pennyworths.9 Again, Poor Richard says, Tis foolish to lay out Money in a Purchase of Repentance;10 and yet this Folly is practised every Day at Vendues, for want of minding the Almanack. Started electrical experimentsafter receiving an electric tube from Peter Collision. 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. The Boston News-Letter for March 30, 1758, carried his advertisement that Father Abrahams Speech was This Day Published. This is a 24-page pamphlet, with a very long title which begins: Father Abrahams Speech To a great Number of People, at a Vendue of Merchant Goods; Introduced to The Publick By Poor Richard, (A famous Pennsylvanian Conjurer and Almanack-Maker) In Answer to the Following Questions.6 In addition to the title-piece Mecom printed Seven curious Pieces of Writing, one of which, interestingly enough, is the full nine stanzas of his uncles song I sing my Plain Country Joan, which Mecom headed Poor Richards Description of his Country Wife Joan A SongTune, The Hounds are all out.7 Mecom reprinted the speech in a 16-page pamphlet in 1760, probably in the autumn, this time without appending any of the curious Pieces he had included before.8. Wont these heavy Taxes quite ruin the Country? How shall we be ever able to pay them? Ten Thousand, burns it to yourself less bright? Course Hero. Are her Compatriots all, by her belovd. When you have got your Bar|gain, adding, For want of a Nail, the Shoe was lost; for How shall we be ever able to pay them? Silks and Sattins, Scarlet and Velvets (as Poor Richard The small expenses that support immoral habits can add up and harm a family's ability to survive. Although the Poor Richard of the early almanacs was a dim-witted and foolish astronomer, he was soon replaced by Franklin's famous Poor Richard, a . the Grindstone, and die not worth a Groat at last. And scorn to think or act for Self alone; Happy Tom Crump, neer sees his own Hump. The People heard it, and approved the Doctrine, and immediately practised the contrary, just as if it had been a common Sermon; for the Vendue opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all his Cautions, and their own Fear of Taxes. Do you imagine that Sloth will afford you more but, after all, do not depend too much up|on Father Abraham's speech to a great number of people, at a vendue of merchant-goods; introduced to the publick by Poor Richard [pseud.] However, the rest of the essay is Father Abraham's speech. And yet you As to the speech itself, one may agree with D. H. Lawrence that Poor Richards tags are detestable, or with Franklins Scottish admirer that these proverbs are the quintessence of the wisdom accumulated in all the ages, or one may take a position somewhere in between. Page 5 Father Abraham's speech to a great number of people, at a vendue of merchant-goods introduced to the public by Poor Richard, a famous Pennsylvania conjurer and almanack-maker, in answer to the following questions : Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? As a writer, Franklin was best known for the wit and wisdom he shared with the readers of his popular almanac, Poor Richard, under the pseudonym "Richard Saunders." In his autobiography, Franklin notes that he began publishing his almanac in 1732 and continued for twenty-five years: "I endeavour'd to make it both . fasting. Poor Dick farther advises, and says. He boasted in his autobiography that the almanac eventually reached ten. Poor Richard's full name is Richard Saunders. And in Lifes Voyage is thimpelling Wind; And steer the Bark with Heavn-directed Hand: So shall you safe Ambitions Gales receive. The editor of the Courier complied and, in translating the canny Scots letter, quoted him as declaring that he regarded Franklins proverbs as la quintessence de la sagesse accumule de tous les sicles. Since the version which came from Edinburgh was the full Preliminary Address that had appeared in 1758 in The Grand Magazine and The London Chronicle, the French translation, which was printed in six installments in Courier de lEurope from March 21 through May 30, 1777, was also essentially a translation of what Franklin had originally written, rather than the shortened form Dubourg had used.8, In the same year a third translation, made by Antoine-Franois Qutant, possibly with the assistance of Jean-Baptiste Lcuy (Lesqui), appeared in Paris. my Authority; and I own that, to encourage the Thus still should private Friendships spread around. No, for as Poor Richard says, Trouble springs from Idleness, and grievous Toil from needless Ease.19 Many without Labour, would live by their WITS only, but they break for want of Stock.20 Whereas Industry gives Comfort, and Plenty, and Respect: Fly Pleasures, and theyll follow you.1 The diligent Spinner has a large Shift;2 and now I have a Sheep and a Cow, every Body bids me Good morrow;3 all which is well said by Poor Richard. Brands, H. W. The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. "Father Abraham's speech" signed: Richard Saunders. consumes faster than Labour wears, while the used Who best, who bravest, shall assist his Friend. Poor Richard refers humorously to his delight at being quoted so extensively. 1, 1770 as the Act directs by Robinson & Roberts in Paternoster Row, and T. Slack in Newcastle. 1268 (Jan. 1956), 648. If Time be of all Things the most precious, wasting Time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest Prodigality,9 since, as he elsewhere tells us, Lost Time is never found again;10 and what we call Time-enough, always proves little enough:11 Let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. Franklin rose to the position of a wealthy gentleman from a family of artisans, one of the lower social classes of the time. Poor Richard's Advice: p. 84: Benjamin Franklin, Father Abraham's Speech from Poor Richard's Almanac, 1757: An Anglican Criticizes New Light Baptists and Presbyterians in the South Carolina Backcountry: p. 89: Charles Woodmason, Sermon on the Baptists and the Presbyterians, ca. The Way to Wealth Study Guide. Wise Men, as poor Dick says, learn was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was Page 6 Page 11 want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of Page 12 [New Canaan, CT] : Readex Microprint, [1987-1992] microfiches ; 11 x 15 cm. Father Abraham first comments on the fact that taxes are not the real problem. Subject(s): Maxims; Success; Wealth; Note: A collection of the sayings of Poor Richard, presented in the form of a speech, and variously known as Father Abraham's speech, The way to wealth, and La science du Bonhomme Richard.