1757
THE WAY TO WEALTH
by Benjamin Franklin
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
The Way to Wealth
COURTEOUS Reader,
I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as
to find his works respectfully quoted by others. 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 an auction of merchants' goods. The hour of the
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? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall
we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?"
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, as
Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak his mind,
and gathering round him he proceeded as follows.
"Friends," said he, "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 maybe done for us; God helps
them that help themselves, as Poor Richard says.
"I. 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; 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 is 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, 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 difficult, but
industry all easy; 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. Drive thy business, let
not that drive thee; and Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a
man healthy, wealthy, and wise, as Poor Richard says.
"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 liesure; 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; for A life of leisure and a life of
laziness are two things. 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 will
follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have
a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow.
"II. But with our industry we must likewise be steady,
settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eye,
and not 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 bad 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,
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 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, If you
would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve
yourself. A little neglect may breed great mischief; 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.
"III. 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; and
Many estate 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, 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
then have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and
chargeable families; for
Women and wine, game and deceit,
Make the wealth small and the want great.
And further, 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, Many a little makes a mickle. Beware of
little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor
Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove;
and moreover, Fools make feasts. and wise men eat them. . . . If
you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for
he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing, as Poor Richard says;
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 drew 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. It
is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that
follow it. And, it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich,
as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.
Vessels large may venture more,
But little boats should keep near shore.
It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says,
Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. 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, nor ease
pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy;
it hastens misfortune.
"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these
superfluities. When you have got your bargain, you may,
perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard says,
Creditors have better memories than debtors; 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
extremely short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as
well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be
paid at Easter. At present, perhaps, you may think yourselves 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.
Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live,
expense is constant and certain; and It is easier to build two
chimneys, than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says; so,
Rather go to bed supperless, than in debt.
Get what you can, and what you get hold;
'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.
And when you have got the Philosopher's stone, sure you will no
longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.
"IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but,
after 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
afterward prosperous.
"And now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear school, but
fools will learn in no other, as Poor Richard says, and scarce in
that; for, it is true, We may give advice, but we cannot give
conduct. However, remember this, They that will not be counselled,
cannot be helped; and further, that, If you will not hear Reason,
she will surely rap your knuckles, as Poor Richard says."
Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it
and approved the doctrine; and immediately practised the contrary,
just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened, and
they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had
thoroughly studied my Almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on
these topics during the course of twenty-five 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 that 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,
RICHARD SAUNDERS.
The End
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