Franklin's Way to Wealth; Or,"Poor Richard Improved
1758
Franklin's Way to Wealth distills decades of homespun philosophy into one unforgettable speech. In 1758, Benjamin Franklin gathered the best advice from his wildly popular Poor Richard's Almanack and arranged it as a sermon delivered by "Father Abraham" to a crowd of struggling colonists groaning under heavy taxes and economic anxiety. The result is a treasury of practical wisdom that shaped the American character: work hard, waste nothing, plan for tomorrow. Phrases like "early to bed and early to rise" and "for want of a nail, the shoe was lost" became embedded in our cultural DNA. Yet Franklin, ever the ironist, couldn't resist one last joke: the moment Father Abraham finishes speaking, the crowd immediately abandons his advice to scramble toward an auction. This tension between aspiration and human nature gives the essay its enduring bite. It's a compact, witty, and surprisingly modern meditation on what it means to build a good life through diligence and prudence.
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“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words: industry and frugality. Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he can, will certainly become rich.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“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.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of,””
— Benjamin Franklin
“If dost thou love life, then Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says.””
— Benjamin Franklin
“One today is worth two tomorrows,””
— Benjamin Franklin
“It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.””
— Benjamin Franklin
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Franklin, Benjamin. Franklin's Way to Wealth; Or,"Poor Richard Improved. Lex, lex-books.com/book/franklin-s-way-to-wealth-or-poor-richard-improved-8c5d45e6-3079-4624-9d39-c543784f3e4e.Franklin, B. (1758). Franklin's Way to Wealth; Or,"Poor Richard Improved. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/franklin-s-way-to-wealth-or-poor-richard-improved-8c5d45e6-3079-4624-9d39-c543784f3e4eFranklin, Benjamin. Franklin's Way to Wealth; Or,"Poor Richard Improved. Lex. https://lex-books.com/book/franklin-s-way-to-wealth-or-poor-richard-improved-8c5d45e6-3079-4624-9d39-c543784f3e4e.
![Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin; Written by Himself. [Vol. 2 Of 2]with His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, and Philosophical, Selected with Care from All His Published Productions, and Comprising Whatever Is Most Entertaining and Valuable to the General Reader](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3b2n8gj62qnwr.cloudfront.net%2FCOVERS%2Fgutenberg_covers75k%2Febook-40236.png&w=3840&q=75)
![Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin; Written by Himself. [Vol. 1 Of 2]with His Most Interesting Essays, Letters, and Miscellaneous Writings; Familiar, Moral, Political, Economical, and Philosophical, Selected with Care from All His Published Productions, and Comprising Whatever Is Most Entertaining and Valuable to the General Reader](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3b2n8gj62qnwr.cloudfront.net%2FCOVERS%2Fgutenberg_covers75k%2Febook-36338.png&w=3840&q=75)
