The Life of Benjamin Franklin: With Many Choice Anecdotes and admirable sayings of this great man never before published by any of his biographersWeems, M. L. (Mason Locke)
Philosophy
The Life of Benjamin Franklin: With Many Choice Anecdotes and admirable sayings of this great man never before published by any of his biographers
Weems, M. L. (Mason Locke)
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790; Statesmen -- United States -- Biography
Remember that money is of a very breeding prolific nature. Money
begets money; and its offspring can beget more: and so on. Five
shillings turned is six. Turned again it is seven and three-pence; and
so on, till it becomes hundreds and thousands of pounds. The more
there is of it, the more it produces, every turning; so that the
profits rise quicker and quicker. He, who kills a breeding sow,
destroys all her offspring, to the thousandth generation. He, who
murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced; even scores
of pounds.
Remember that six pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little
sum, which may be daily wasted either in time or expense, unperceived,
a man of credit may, on his own security, have the constant possession
and use of an hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an
industrious man, produces great advantages.
Remember this saying, "the good paymaster is lord of another man's
purse." He who is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he
promises, may, at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money
his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry
and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man
in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings.
Therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you
promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever.
The most trifling actions, that affect a man's credit, are to be
regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at
night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if
he see you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when
you should be at work, he sends for his money next day; and demands it
before he can receive it in a lump.
It shows, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe. It makes you
appear a careful as well as an honest man; and that still increases
your credit.
Beware of thinking all your own, that you possess; and of living
accordingly. It is a mistake that many people, who have credit, fall
into.
To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your
expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention
particulars, it will have this good effect:--you will discover how
wonderfully small, trifling expenses mount up to large sums; and will
soon discern, what might have been, and may for the future be saved,
without occasioning any great inconvenience.
Again: he, who sells upon credit, asks a price, for what he sells,
equivalent to the principal and interest of his money, for the time he
is to be kept out of it. Therefore, he who buys upon credit, pays
interest for what he buys; and, he who pays ready money, might let
that money out to use. So, that he who possesses any thing he has
bought, pays interest for the use of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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