The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Illustrated by Tales, Sketches, and AnecdotesGoodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
History
The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Illustrated by Tales, Sketches, and Anecdotes
Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790; Statesmen -- United States -- Biography
left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think 'It is day,
and will never be night; that a little to be spent out of so much, is
not worth minding.' 'A child and a fool (as poor Richard says) imagine
twenty shillings and twenty years can never be spent; but always be
taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the
bottom:' then, as poor Dick says, 'When the well is dry, they know the
worth of water.' But this they might have known before, if they had
taken his advice: 'if you would know the value of money, go and try to
borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing; and,
indeed, so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it
in again.' Poor Dick further advises, and says,
'Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse:
Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.'
And again, 'Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more
saucy.' When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more,
that your appearance may be all of a piece; but poor Dick says, 'It is
easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow
it.' And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as the
frog to swell in order to equal the ox.
'Vessels large may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore.'
'Tis, however, a folly soon punished; for 'Pride that dines on vanity,
sups on contempt,' as poor Richard says. And in another place, 'Pride
breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy.'
And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so
much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health, or ease
pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it hastens
misfortune.
What is a butterfly? At best,
He's but a caterpillar drest;
The gaudy fop's his picture just,
as poor Richard says.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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