Sublime

Without an estate, or any gainful employment, By constant labor and industry, with God's blessing, They maintained a large family comfortably, and brought up thirteen children and seven grandchildren reputably. From this instance, reader, Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling, And distrust not Providence.

No longer weighed down by all the administrative minutiae required to run a complicated business, Franklin increasingly turned his attention toward loftier and more engaging projects. In the first four years after Hall’s arrival, Franklin popularized his highly efficient woodburning stove, organized a citizen militia in Philadelphia, and started th

When I disengaged myself as above mentioned from private business, I flattered myself that, by the sufficient though moderate fortune I had acquired, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for philosophical studies and amusements.

These proverbs, which contained the wisdom of many ages and nations, I assembled and formed into a connected discourse, [119] prefixed to the Almanac of 1757 as the harangue of a wise old man to the people attending an auction. The bringing all these scattered counsels thus into a focus enabled them to make greater impression. The piece, being univ

Benjamin Franklin, tactless in his youth, became so diplomatic, so adroit at handling people, that he was made American Ambassador to France. The secret of his success? “I will speak ill of no man,” he said, “… and speak all the good I know of everybody.”

Vous pouvez voir à quel point le sentiment de supériorité (les pièges de l’ego) et la sensation que tout nous est dû auraient pu rendre impossible l’accomplissement de ces hommes. Franklin n’aurait jamais été édité s’il avait privilégié le mérite plutôt que l’expression créative — et quand son frère l’a découvert, il l’a littéralement tabassé par j

Franklin famously outlined a scheme to achieve “moral perfection” according to a thirteen-week plan. Each week was devoted to a particular virtue—temperance, cleanliness, moderation, et cetera—and his offenses against these virtues were tracked on a calendar.

Inspiré par ces réunions, Franklin organisa un pot commun dans lequel les membres du Junto mettraient de l’argent pour acheter des livres à la disposition de tous. Ce modèle se répandit vite au-delà des réunions du vendredi soir, ce qui conduisit Franklin à rédiger en 1731 la charte de la Library Company of Philadelphia, l’une des premières bibliot

“Study thoughtfully thy accustomed habits of living. Herein may be most often found certain accepted expenses that may wisely be reduced or eliminated. Let thy motto be one hundred percent of appreciated value demanded for each coin spent.