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Poor Richards Almanack
By Benjamin Franklin
July 20, 2007
This is a collection of Benjamin Franklins aphorisms. No summary here, but you can find many wisdom. Here I quote the followings that I share with thee.
Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no ambition corrupt thee, no example sway thee, no persuasion move thee, to do any thing which thou knowest to be evil; so shalt thou always live jollily; for good conscience is a continual Christmas.
Customs and bad advice are seldom forgotten.
After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.
Well done is better than well said.
Great good-nature, without Prudence, is a great Misfortune.
He that would live in peace and at east, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.
He that drinks his Cyder alone, let him catch his Horse alone.
He that buys by the penny, maintains not only himself, but other people.
Quarrels never could last long, if on one side only lay the wrong.
As pride increases, Fortune declines.
Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad Habits.
Avoid dishonest gain: no price can recompense the pangs of vice.
You can bear your own Faults, and why not a Fault in your Wife (and Friend).
Hes a Fool that cannon conceal his Wisdom.
You may be too cunning for one, but not for all.
Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.
Don’t overload gratitude; if you do, shell kick.
The heart of the fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise man is in his heart.
To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.
Do not do that which you would not have known.
Patience in Market, is worth Pounds in a year.
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
Tis a Sham that your Family is an Honour to you! You ought be an Honour to your Family.
Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
Lend money to an enemy, and thou’lt gain him; to a friend, and thou’lt lose him.
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; Friend to one; Enemy to none.
A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully and leave contentedly.
Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.
When a friend deals with a friend, let the bargain be clear and well penned, that they may continue friends to the end.
Thirteen Virtues 1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation. 2. Silence: speak not but what may benefit other or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. 3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time. 4.Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve. 5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 6. Industry: Lost no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; if you speak, speak accordingly. 8. Justice: Wrong one by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. 10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloth, or habitation. 11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles or at accidents common or unavoidable. 12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health of offspring – never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your or anther’s peace or reputation. 13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.