poor richards almanac(穷人查理的万年历)

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN POORPOORPOORPOOR RICHARD'SRICHARD'SRICHARD'SRICHARD'S ALMANAC Elibron Classics www.elibron.com Elibron Classics is a trademark of Adamant Media Corporation. Visit us at www.elibron.com POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC [In Franklin's lifetime the almanac was the most popular form of literature in America. A few people read newspapers, but every farmer who could read at all had an almanac hanging by the fireplace. Besides the monthly calendar and movements of the heavenly bodies, the almanac contained anecdotes, scraps of useful information, and odds and ends of literature. Franklin began the publication of such an almanac in 1732, pretending that it was written by one Richard Saunders. It was published annually for twenty-five years. "I endeavoured," says Franklin, "to make it both entertaining and useful; and it accordingly came to be in such demand, that I reaped considerable profit from it, vending annually near ten thousand. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 4 And observing that it was generally read, scarce any neighbourhood in the province being without it, I considered it as a proper vehicle. for conveying instruction among the common people, who bought scarcely any other books; I therefore filled all the little spaces that occurred between the remarkable days in the calendar with proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and frugality as the means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing virtue; it being more difficult for a mail ill want to act always honestly, as, to use here one of those proverbs, 'it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.' In the almanac Franklin introduced his proverbs by the phrase Poor Richard says, as if he were quoting from Richard Saunders, and so the almanac came to be called Poor Richard's Almanac. "These proverbs," he continues, "which contain the wisdom of many ages and POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 5 nations, I assembled and formed into a connected discourse, 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 universally approved, was copied in all the newspapers of the continent [that is, the American continent]; reprinted in Britain on a broadside, to be stuck up in houses; two translations were made of it ill French, and great numbers bought by the clergy and gentry, to distribute gratis among their poor parishioners and tenants. In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless expense in foreign superfluities, some thought it had its share of influence in producing that growing plenty of money which was observable for several years after its publication." BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 6 Franklin's example was followed by other writers,— Noah Webster, the maker of dictionaries, among them; and one can see in the popular almanacs of to-day, such as The Old Farmer's Almanac, the effect of Franklin's style. When the king of France gave Captain John Paul Jones a ship with which to make attacks upon British merchantmen in the war for independence, it was named, out of compliment to Franklin, the Bon Homme Richard, which might be translated Clever Richard. The pages which follow are the connected discourse prefixed to the almanac of 1757.] ___________ courteous reader:— I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed. For though I have been, if I may say it without POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 7 vanity, an eminent author of Almanacs annually, now for a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses; and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me. I concluded at length, that the people were the best judges of my merit; for they buy my works; and besides, in my rambles, where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated, with as Poor Richard says at the end of it. This gave me some satisfaction, as it showed, not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority; and I own, that to encourage the practice of remembering and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 8 repeating those sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great gravity. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at a vendue of merchant's goods. The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up and replied: "If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short; for A word to the wise is enough, and Many words won't fill a bushel, as Poor Richard says." They all joined, desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:— POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 9 Friends, says he, and neighbours, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might the more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed-twice as much by our IDLENESS, three times as much by our PRIDE, and four times as much by our FOLLY; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them that helps themselves, as Poor Richard says in his Almanac of 1733. It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their TIME, to be employed in its service, but idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing; with that which is spent in BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 10 idle employments or amusements that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing oil diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more that is necessary do we spend in sleep? forgetting, that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting of time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; since, as he elsewhere tells us, lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough! always proves little enough. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so, by diligence, shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 11 difficult, but industry all things easy, as Poor Richard says; and He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him, as we read in Poor Richard; who adds, Drive thy business I let not that drive thee! and — Early to bed and early to rise Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not wish, as Poor Richard says, and he that lives on hope will die fasting. There are no gains without paws; then help, hands! For I have no lands; or, if I have, they are smartly taxed. And, as Poor Richard likewise observes. He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 12 profit and honour; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor Richard says. At the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy. Diligence is the mother of good luck, as Poor Richard says, and God gives all things to industry. Then plough deep while sluggards sleep, And you shall have corn to sell and to keep, says Poor Dick. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 13 be hindered tomorrow; which makes Poor Richard say, One to-day is worth two to- morrows; and farther, Haw you somewhat to do to-morrow? Do it to-day! If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, as Poor Dick says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your gracious king, be up by peep of day! Let not the sun look down and say, "Inglorious here he lies!" Handle your tools without mittens! remember that The cat in gloves catches no mice! as Poor Richard says. 'Tis true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for Constant dropping wears away stones; and By diligence and patience the mouse ate in BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 14 two the cable; and Little strokes fell qreat oaks; as Poor Richard says in his Almanac, the year I cannot just now remember. Methinks I hear some of you say, "Must a man afford himself no leisure?" I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour! Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as Poor Richard says, A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more comfort than labour? No! For, as Poor Richard says, Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many, without labour, would live by their wits only, but they'II break for want of stock [i. e. Capital]; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleasures, and they'll POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 15 follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and — Now I have a sheep and a cow, Everybody bids me good morrow. All which is well said by Poor Richard. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says,— I never saw an oft-removed tree Nor yet an oft-removed family That throve so well as those that settled be. And again. Three removes are as had as a fire; and again. Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee; and again, If you would have your business done, go; if not, send. And again,— BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 16 He that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. And again, The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands; and again, Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge; and again, Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open. Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; for, as the Almanac says, In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it; but a man's own care is profitable; for saith Poor Dick, Learning is to the studious, and Riches to the careful; as well as, Power to the bold, and Heaven to the virtuous. And further, if you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. And again, he adviseth to circumspection and care, even in the smallest matters; because sometimes, a little neglect POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 17 may breed great mischief; adding, for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost; being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for want of a little care about a horse-shoe nail! So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will, as Poor Richard says; and — Many estates are spent in the getting, Since women or tea forsook spinning and knitting, And men or punch forsook hewing and splitting. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 18 If you would be wealthy, says he in another Almanac; Think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich; because her outgoes are greater than her incomes. Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families, for, as Poor Dick says,— Women and wine, game and deceit, Make the wealth small and the wants great. And farther, What maintains one vice would bring up two children. You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then; a diet a little more costly; clothes a little more finer; and a little more entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember what Poor Richard says, Many a little makes a mickle; and POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 19 further. Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship; and again,— Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. Here are you all got together at this vendue of fineries and knick-knacks. You call them goods; but if you do not take care, they will prove evils to some 'of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but, if you have no occasion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries. And again, At a great pennyworth pause a while. He means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain by straitening thee in thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 20 Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again, Poor Richard says, 'Tis foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is practised every day at vendues for want of minding the Almanac. Wise men, as Poor Richard says, learn by others' harms; Fools scarcely by their own; but Felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum. Many a one, for the sake of finery on the back, has gone with a hungry belly, and half-starved their families. Silks and satins, scarlets and velvets, as Poor Richard says, put out the kitchen fire. These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many want to have them! The artificial wants of mankind thus become more numerous than the natural; and, as Poor POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 21 Dick says, For one poor person there are a hundred indigent. By these, and other extravagances, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained their standing; in which case it appears plainly, that A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small estate left them, which they knew not the getting of; they think, 'Tis 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 taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom. Then, as Poor Dick says, When the well's dry, they know the worth of water. But this they might have BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 22 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, 'Tis easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it. And 'Tis as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox. POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 23 Great estates 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 creates envy; 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. But what madness must it be to run into debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this vendue, six months' credit; and that, perhaps, has induced some of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 24 us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do when you run in debt: You give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, The second vice is lying, the first is running info debt; and again, to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt's back; whereas a free-born Englishman ought not to be ashamed, or afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit, and virtue. 'Tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright, as Poor Richard truly says. What would you think of that prince, or the government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC 25 gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under such tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in jail for life, or to sell you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but Creditors (Poor Richard tells us) have better memories than debtors; and in another place says, Creditors are a superstitious set, great observers of set days and times. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term which at BENJAMIN FRANKLIN 26 first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent, sai