benjamin franklin (1706 – 1790)

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)


Auto bio graphy


Auto bio graphyAutos bios graphein


Auto bio graphyAutos bios grapheinSelf life writing

St. Augustine, Confessiones (398)


Conversion from pagan to Christian


Conversion from pagan to ChristianStory of his life, from birth to conversion


Conversion from pagan to ChristianStory of his life, from birth to conversionDaily life and habits


Conversion from pagan to ChristianStory of his life, from birth to conversionDaily life and habitsTemptations: observing spider as spectator sport

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Confessions (1782)

Emphasis on childhood


Emphasis on childhoodFrank discussion of humiliations


Emphasis on childhoodFrank discussion of humiliationsPetty acts of theft


Conversion?


Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state ofaffluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated. (5)


I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made there. (26)


Conversion? No, but

Dramatic rise from poverty to postion


At length, a fresh difference arising between my brother and me, I took upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to produce the new indentures. It was not fair in me to take this advantage, and this I therefore reckon one of the first errata of my life; but the unfairness of it weighed little with me, when under the impressions of resentment for the blows his passion too often urged him to bestow upon me, though he was otherwise not an illnatur’d man: perhaps I was too saucy and provoking.


At length, a fresh difference arising between my brother and me, I took upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to produce the new indentures. It was not fair in me to take this advantage, and this I therefore reckon one of the first errata of my life; but the unfairness of it weighed little with me, when under the impressions of resentment for the blows his passion too often urged him to bestow upon me, though he was otherwise not an illnatur’d man: perhaps I was too saucy and provoking. (22)


Erratum, pl. errata = error (Latin)


The breaking into this money of Vernon's was one of the first great errata of my life. (35)


He seem'd quite to forget his wife and child, and I, by degrees, my engagements with Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that was to let her know I was not likely soon to return. This was another of the great errata of my life, which I should wish to correct if I were to live it over again. (43)


We ventured, however, over all these difficulties, and I took her to wife, September 1st, 1730. None of the inconveniences happened that we had apprehended, she proved a good and faithful helpmate, assisted me much by attending the shop; we throve together, and have ever mutually endeavored to make each other happy. Thus I corrected that great erratum as well as I could. (69)


Conversion? No, but

Dramatic rise from poverty to position

Regretting errors (errata) and correcting them


Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state ofaffluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated. (5)


Conversion? No, but

Dramatic rise poverty to position

Regretting errors (errata) and correcting them

Exemplary life


Conversion from pagan to ChristianLife story, from birth to time of writing


Conversion from pagan to ChristianLife story, from birth to time of writingDaily life and habits


Letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan:

It is in youth that we plant our chief habits and prejudices; it is in youth that we take our party as to profession, pursuits and matrimony; (73)


Daily life and habitHow Franklin became a vegetarian

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)"I doubt," said he, "my constitution will not bear that." I assur'd

him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress'd, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar'd for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. (37)

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)"I doubt," said he [Keimer], "my constitution will not bear that." I

assur'd him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress'd, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar'd for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. (37)

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)"I doubt," said he, "my constitution will not bear that." I assur'd

him it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress'd, and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar'd for us at different times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. (37)


Daily life and habitsHow Franklin became a vegetarianand an advocate for temperance


My companion at the press drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner, a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock, and another when he had done his day's work. I thought it a detestable custom; but it was necessary, he suppos'd, to drink strong beer, that he might be strong to labor. (46)


I endeavored to convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer could only be in proportion to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in the water of which it was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of bread; and therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of water, it would give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on, however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every Saturday night for that muddling liquor; an expense I was free from. And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under. (46)


when I talk'd of a lodging I had heard of, nearer my business, for two shillings a week, which, intent as I now was on saving money, made some difference, she bid me not think of it, for she would abate me two shillings a week for the future; (48)

0393919617

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)Frugality


"For the industry of that Franklin," says he, "is superior to any thing I ever saw of the kind; I see him still at work when I go home from club, and he is at work again before his neighbors are out of bed.” (61)


I mention this industry the more particularly and the more freely, tho' it seems to be talking in my own praise, that those of my posterity, who shall read it, may know the use of that virtue, when they see its effects in my favour throughout this relation. (61)


Industry


Industry

Adam Smith: Capital is increased by parsimony and industry. (431)


Conversion from pagan to ChristianLife story, from birth to time of writing?Daily life and habitsTemptations: observing spider as spectator sport

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)The Art of Virtue

It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. (82)


But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I bad imagined. While my care was employ'd in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose Itherefore contrived the following method. (82)


But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I bad imagined. While my care was employ'd in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method. (82)


My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg'd it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro' the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang'd them with that view, as they stand above.


Frugality: “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.”


Frugality: “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.”

Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions” (83)


Frugality and Industry freeing me from my remaining debt, and producing affluence and independence, would make more easy the practice of Sincerity and Justice, etc., etc. (85)

Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)Order:


HumilityI cannot boast of much success in acquiring the

reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it. (91)

benjamin franklin (1706 – 1790)

Documents