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Franklin's Autobiography(eclectic English Classics)

1732

Benjamin Franklin

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Franklin's Autobiography(eclectic English Classics)

Benjamin Franklin

1732

American Literature, Biographies, Classics of Literature, History - American

Benjamin Franklin began writing this book to instruct his son, but what emerged was something far greater: the original American self-portrait, and the blueprint for a million dreams to come. We meet the candle-maker's son who ran away to Philadelphia with nothing but wit, restless curiosity, and an unshakeable belief in self-improvement. Franklin chronicles his rise through the trades of printing and publishing, his legendary scientific experiments, his invention of everything from bifocals to the lightning rod, and his transformation into the most famous American in the world. But what makes this book endure is not just the accomplishments. It's Franklin's voice: plainspoken, wry, occasionally self-congratulatory, and surprisingly honest about his own failings. He gives us his famous 13 virtues, his method for cultivating virtue through habit, his thoughts on industry and frugality. This is the autobiography that invented the idea of the self-made man, written by the man who proved it was possible. It remains essential reading for anyone who wants to understand America, or the eternal human project of becoming better.

Project Gutenberg

A historical autobiography written in the late 18th century. This work chronicles the life of one of America's Founding...

Goodreads

Written initially to guide his son, Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography is a lively, spellbinding account of his unique an...

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Franklin's Autobiography(eclectic English Classics)
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“Never confuse Motion with Action.””

— Benjamin Franklin

“...there will be sleeping enough in the grave....””

— Benjamin Franklin

“When the well is dry we know the value of water””

— Benjamin Franklin

“Reading was the only amusement I allowed myself””

— Benjamin Franklin

“He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.””

— Benjamin Franklin

“In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.””

— Benjamin Franklin

“1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. 2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. 6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you...””

— Benjamin Franklin

“My Parents had early given me religious Impressions, and brought me through my Childhood piously in the Dissenting Way. But I was scarce 15 when, after doubting by turns of several Points as I found them disputed in the different Books I read, . Some Books against Deism fell into my Hands; they were said to be the Substance of Sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they wrought an Effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them: For the Arguments of the Deists which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much Stronger than the Refutations. .[]””

— Benjamin Franklin

“it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright””

— Benjamin Franklin

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Franklin, Benjamin. Franklin's Autobiography(eclectic English Classics). Lex, lex-books.com/book/franklin-s-autobiography-eclectic-english-classics-f5b05b34-d76b-4e7d-8afd-94163ef7cd8f.
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