加载中…The Way to Wealth
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Benjamin Franklin “The Way to Wealth”
(1758)
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 tho' I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an
eminent author of almanacs annually now 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 on't; 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
repeating those wise 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
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 be ever able to pay them? What would
you advise us to?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied, "If you'd
have my advice, I'll 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 joined in desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering
round him, he proceeded as follows: "Friends, says he, and
neighbors, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by
the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might 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 help
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
idle employments or amusements, that amount to nothing.
Sloth,by bringing on diseases,
absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes
faster than labor 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 than 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 time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest
prodigality, since,
2 as he elsewhere tells us, lost time is never found
again, and what we call time-enough, always proves little
enough: let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the purpose;
so by diligence
shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things
difficult, but industry all 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, 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 upon hope
will die fasting. There are no gains, without
pains, 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 profit and honor; 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 nor the
constable enter, forindustry pays debts, while
despair encreaseth them, says Poor Richard. 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 today, for you know
not how much you may be hindered tomorrow, which makes Poor Richard
say, one today
is worth two tomorrows; and farther, have you somewhat to do
tomorrow, do it today. 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 two the
cable; and little strokes fell great 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 labor? No, for as Poor Richard says,
trouble springs
from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Many
without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for
want of stock. Whereas industry gives
comfort, and plenty, and respect: fly pleasures, and they'll
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, 3 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 is as bad as a fire, and again, keep the shop, and
thy shop will keep thee; and again, if you would have your business
done, go; if not, send. And again, He that by the plough would
thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. "And again, the eye of a
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 farther,
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 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 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 for tea forsook spinning and knitting, And men
for punch forsook hewing and splitting. 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, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a
little entertainment now and then, can be no great Matter; but
remember what Poor Richard says, many a little makes a mickle, and farther,
beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great 4 ship,
and again, who dainties love, shall
beggars prove, and moreover, fools make Feasts, and wise
men eat them. "Here you are all got together at this vendue
of fineries and knicknacks. 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 straitning thee in
thy business, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place
he says, many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again,
Poor Richard says, 'tis foolish to lay our 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 Dick 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,
have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved their families;
silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, as Poor Richard says,put out
the kitchen fire. These are not the necessaries of life; they can
scarcely be called the conveniencies, 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
Dick says, for one poorperson, there are an hundred indigent.
By these, and
other extravagancies, 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 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 farther advises, and says, Fond pride of dress, is sure a
very curse; E'er 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 maybe 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. 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 5
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 dressed. The gaudy fop's his picture
just, as Poor Richard says. "But what madness must it be to run in
debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this
vendue, six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some of 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 you veracity, and sink
into base downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, the second
vice is lying, the first is running in debt. And again to the same
purpose, lying rides upon debt's back. Whereas a freeborn
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 that government, who
should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or a
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 that 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 gaol 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 sect, 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 first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear
extreamly short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as
well as shoulders. Those have a short Lent, saith Poor Richard, who
owe money to be paid at Easter. Then since, as he says,
the borrower is
a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor, disdain the
chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be
industrious and free; be frugal and free. At present,
perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving circumstances, and that
you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but, For age and
want, save while you may; No morning sun lasts a whole day, as Poor
Richard says. Gain may be temporary and
uncertain, but ever while you live, expense is constant and
certain; and 'tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep
one in fuel, as Poor Richard says. So rather go to bed supperless
than rise in debt. 6 Get what you can, and what you get hold; 'Tis
the stone that will turn all your lead into gold, as Poor Richard
says. And when you have got the philosopher's stone, sure you will
no longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.
"This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but after all, do
not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and
prudence, though excellent things, for they may all be blasted
without the blessing of heaven; and therefore ask that blessing
humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to
want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and
was afterwards prosperous. "And now to conclude, experience
keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce
in that, for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give
conduct, as Poor Richard says: however, remember this, they that
won't be counseled, can't be helped, as Poor Richard says: and
farther, that if you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your
knuckles." Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people
heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the
contrary, just as if it had been a common sermon; for the vendue
opened, and they began to buy extravagantly, notwithstanding all
his cautions, and their own fear of taxes. I found the good man had
thoroughly studied my almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on
those topics during the course of five-and-twenty years. The
frequent mention he made of me must have tired any one else, but my
vanity was wonderfully delighted with it, though I was conscious
that not a tenth part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to
me, but rather the gleanings I had made of the sense of all ages
and nations. However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of
it; and though I had at first determined to buy stuff for a new
coat, I went away resolved to wear my old one a little longer.
Reader, if thou wilt do the same, thy profit will be as great as
mine. I am, as ever, thine to serve thee,
Source: The Works of Benjamin Franklin. Edited by Jared
Sparks. Vol. 2. (Boston, 1836), 2:92-103. Online: American
Literature Research and Analysis Website, Florida Gulf Coast
University
http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/alra/franklin.htm
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