Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), The Way to Wealth (1757) Co rteo ! "ea#er, $ ha%e hear# that nothin& &i%e!

an a thor !o &reat 'lea! re, a! to (in# hi! )ork! re!'e*t( lly + ote# ,y other learne# a thor!- Thi! 'lea! re $ ha%e !el#om enjoye#. (or tho &h $ ha%e ,een, i( $ may !ay it )itho t %anity, an eminent a thor o( almana*! ann ally no) a ( ll + arter o( a *ent ry, my ,rother a thor! in the !ame )ay, (or )hat rea!on $ kno) not, ha%e e%er ,een %ery !'arin& in their a''la !e!. an# no other a thor ha! taken the lea!t noti*e o( me, !o that #i# not my )ritin&! 'ro# *e me !ome !oli# ' ##in&, the &reat #e(i*ien*y o( 'rai!e )o l# ha%e + ite #i!*o ra&e# me$ *on*l #e# at len&th, that the 'eo'le )ere the ,e!t j #&e! o( my merit. (or they , y my )ork!. an# ,e!i#e!, in my ram,le!, )here $ am not 'er!onally kno)n, $ ha%e (re+ ently hear# one or other o( my a#a&e! re'eate#, )ith, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, at the en# on0t. thi! &a%e me !ome !ati!(a*tion, a! it !ho)e# not only that my in!tr *tion! )ere re&ar#e#, , t #i!*o%ere# like)i!e !ome re!'e*t (or my a thority. an# $ o)n, that to en*o ra&e the 'ra*ti*e o( remem,erin& an# re'eatin& tho!e )i!e !enten*e!, $ ha%e !ometime! + ote# my!el( )ith &reat &ra%ity1 #&e then ho) m *h $ m !t ha%e ,een &rati(ie# ,y an in*i#ent $ am &oin& to relate to yo - $ !to''e# my hor!e lately )here a &reat n m,er o( 'eo'le )ere *olle*te# at a %en# e o( mer*hant &oo#!- The ho r o( !ale not ,ein& *ome, they )ere *on%er!in& on the ,a#ne!! o( the time!, an# one o( the *om'any *alle# to a 'lain *lean ol# man, )ith )hite lo*k!, 2/ray, Father 3,raham, )hat think yo o( the time!4 Won0t the!e hea%y ta5e! + ite r in the *o ntry4 6o) !hall )e ,e e%er a,le to 'ay them4 What )o l# yo a#%i!e ! to42 Father 3,raham !too# ', an# re'lie#, 2$( yo 0# ha%e my a#%i*e, $0ll &i%e it yo in !hort, (or a word to the wise is enough, an# many words won't fill a bushel, a! Poor Richard says-2 They joine# in #e!irin& him to !'eak hi! min#, an# &atherin& ro n# him, he 'ro*ee#e# a! (ollo)!7 2Frien#!, !ay! he, an# nei&h,or!, the ta5e! are in#ee# %ery hea%y, an# i( tho!e lai# on ,y the &o%ernment )ere the only one! )e ha# to 'ay, )e mi&ht more ea!ily #i!*har&e them. , t )e ha%e many other!, an# m *h more &rie%o ! to !ome o( !We are ta5e# t)i*e a! m *h ,y o r i#lene!!, three time! a! m *h ,y o r 'ri#e, an# (o r time! a! m *h ,y o r (olly, an# (rom the!e ta5e! the *ommi!!ioner! *annot ea!e or #eli%er ! ,y allo)in& an a,atement- 6o)e%er let ! hearken to &oo# a#%i*e, an# !omethin& may ,e #one (or !. God helps them that help themselves, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, in hi! almana* o( 17882$t )o l# ,e tho &ht a har# &o%ernment that !ho l# ta5 it! 'eo'le one tenth 'art o( their time, to ,e em'loye# in it! !er%i*e- B t i#lene!! ta5e! many o( ! m *h more, i( )e re*kon all that i! !'ent in a,!ol te !loth, or #oin& o( nothin&, )ith that )hi*h i! !'ent in i#le em'loyment! or am !ement!, that amo nt to nothin&- 9loth,

,y ,rin&in& on #i!ea!e!, a,!ol tely !horten! li(e- Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- B t dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- 6o) m *h more than i! ne*e!!ary #o )e !'en# in !lee': (or&ettin& that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, an# that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- $( time ,e o( all thin&! the mo!t 're*io !, wasting time m !t ,e, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, the greatest prodigality, !in*e, a! he el!e)here tell! !, lost time is never found again, an# )hat )e *all time enough, always proves little enough7 let ! then ,e ' an# ,e #oin&, an# #oin& to the ' r'o!e. !o ,y #ili&en*e !hall )e #o more )ith le!! 'er'le5ity- Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!. an# he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at nightWhile la!iness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him, a! )e rea# in /oor "i*har#, )ho a##!, drive thy business, let not that drive thee. an# early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise29o )hat !i&ni(ie! )i!hin& an# ho'in& (or ,etter time!- We may make the!e time! ,etter i( )e ,e!tir o r!el%e!- "ndustry need not wish, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, an# he that lives upon hope will die fasting# $here are no gains, without pains, then help hands, for " have no lands, or i( $ ha%e, they are !martly ta5e#- 3n#, a! /oor "i*har# like)i!e o,!er%e!, he that hath a trade hath an estate, an# he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor. , t then the tra#e m !t ,e )orke# at, an# the *allin& )ell (ollo)e#, or neither the e!tate, nor the o((i*e, )ill ena,le ! to 'ay o r ta5e!- $( )e are in# !trio ! )e !hall ne%er !tar%e. (or, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, at the working man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter- ;or )ill the ,aili(( nor the *on!ta,le enter, for industry pays debts, while despair encreaseth them, !ay! /oor "i*har#- What tho &h yo ha%e (o n# no trea! re, nor ha! any ri*h relation le(t yo a le&a*y, diligence is the mother of good luck, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, an# God gives all things to industry- Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep, !ay! /oor <i*kWork )hile it i! *alle# to#ay, (or yo kno) not ho) m *h yo may ,e hin#ere# tomorro), )hi*h make! /oor "i*har# !ay, one today is worth two tomorrows. an# (arther, have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today- $( yo )ere a !er%ant, )o l# yo not ,e a!hame# that a &oo# ma!ter !ho l# *at*h yo i#le4 3re yo then yo r o)n ma!ter, be ashamed to catch yourself idle, a! /oor <i*k !ay!When there i! !o m *h to ,e #one (or yo r!el(, yo r (amily, yo r *o ntry, an# yo r &ra*io ! kin&, ,e ' ,y 'ee' o( #ay. let not the sun look down and say, inglorious here he lies- 6an#le yo r tool! )itho t mitten!. remem,er that the cat in gloves catches no mice, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- 0Ti! tr e there i! m *h to ,e #one, an# 'erha'! yo are )eak han#e#, , t !ti*k to it !tea#ily, an# yo )ill !ee &reat e((e*t!, (or constant dropping wears away stones, an# ,y diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable% an# little strokes fell great oaks, a! /oor "i*har# !ay! in hi! almana*, the year $ *annot j !t no) remem,er2=ethink! $ hear !ome o( yo !ay, m !t a man a((or# him!el( no lei! re4 $ )ill tell thee, my (rien#, )hat /oor "i*har# !ay!, employ thy time well if thou meanest

to gain leisure. an#, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour# >ei! re i! time (or #oin& !omethin& !e( l. thi! lei! re the #ili&ent man )ill o,tain, , t the la?y man ne%er. !o that, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, a life of leisure and a life of la!iness are two things- <o yo ima&ine that !loth )ill a((or# yo more *om(ort than la,or4 ;o, (or a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease# &any without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock- Wherea! in# !try &i%e! *om(ort, an# 'lenty, an# re!'e*t7 fly pleasures, and they'll follow you# $he diligent spinner has a large shift, an# now " have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow, all )hi*h i! )ell !ai# ,y /oor "i*har#2B t )ith o r in# !try, )e m !t like)i!e ,e !tea#y, !ettle# an# *are( l, an# o%er!ee o r o)n a((air! )ith o r o)n eye!, an# not tr !t too m *h to other!. (or, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, " never saw an oft removed tree, 'or yet an oft removed family, $hat throve so well as those that settled be# 23n# a&ain, three removes is as bad as a fire, an# a&ain, keep the shop, and thy shop will keep thee. an# a&ain, if you would have your business done, go% if not, send# 3n# a&ain, (e that by the plough would thrive, (imself must either hold or drive# 23n# a&ain, the eye of a master will do more work than both his hands. an# a&ain, want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge. an# a&ain, not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open- Tr !tin& too m *h to other!0 *are i! the r in o( many. (or, a! the almana* !ay!, in the affairs of this world men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it. , t a man0! o)n *are i! 'ro(ita,le. (or, !aith /oor <i*k, learning is to the studious, an# riches to the careful, a! )ell a! power to the bold, an# (eaven to the virtuous- 3n# (arther, if you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself- 3n# a&ain, he a#%i!eth to *ir* m!'e*tion an# *are, e%en in the !malle!t matter!, ,e*a !e !ometime! a little neglect may breed great mischief% a##in&, 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, ,ein& o%ertaken an# !lain ,y the enemy, all (or )ant o( *are a,o t a hor!e-!hoe nail29o m *h (or in# !try, my (rien#!, an# attention to one0! o)n , !ine!!. , t to the!e )e m !t a## (r &ality, i( )e )o l# make o r in# !try more *ertainly ! **e!!( l- 3 man may, i( he kno)! not ho) to !a%e a! he &et!, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, an# #ie not )orth a groat at la!t- ) fat kitchen makes a lean will, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!. an#, &any estates are spent in the getting, Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

)nd men for punch forsook hewing and splitting# "f you would be wealthy, !ay! he, in another almana*, think of saving as well as of getting* the "ndies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes- 3)ay then )ith yo r e5'en!i%e (ollie!, an# yo )ill not ha%e !o m *h *a !e to *om'lain o( har# time!, hea%y ta5e!, an# *har&ea,le (amilie!. (or, a! /oor <i*k !ay!, +omen and wine, game and deceit, &ake the wealth small, and the wants great# 3n# (arther, what maintains one vice, would bring up two children- @o may think 'erha'! that a little tea, or a little ' n*h no) an# then, #iet a little more *o!tly, *lothe! a little (iner, an# a little entertainment no) an# then, *an ,e no &reat =atter. , t remem,er )hat /oor "i*har# !ay!, many a little makes a mickle, an# (arther, beware of little expenses% a small leak will sink a great ship, an# a&ain, who dainties love, shall beggars prove, an# moreo%er, fools make ,easts, and wise men eat them26ere yo are all &ot to&ether at thi! %en# e o( (inerie! an# kni*kna*k!- @o *all them &oo#!, , t i( yo #o not take *are, they )ill 'ro%e e%il! to !ome o( yo -@o e5'e*t they )ill ,e !ol# *hea', an# 'erha'! they may (or le!! than they *o!t. , t i( yo ha%e no o**a!ion (or them, they m !t ,e #ear to yo - "emem,er )hat /oor "i*har# !ay!, buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries- 3n# a&ain, at a great pennyworth pause a while7 he mean!, that 'erha'! the *hea'ne!! i! a''arent only, an# not real. or the ,ar&ain, ,y !traitnin& thee in thy , !ine!!, may #o thee more harm than &oo#- For in another 'la*e he !ay!, many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths- 3&ain, /oor "i*har# !ay!, 'tis foolish to lay our money in a purchase of repentance. an# yet thi! (olly i! 'ra*ti!e# e%ery #ay at %en# e!, (or )ant o( min#in& the almana*- +ise men, a! /oor <i*k !ay!, learn by others' harms, fools scarcely by their own, , t, felix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum- =any a one, (or the !ake o( (inery on the ,a*k, ha%e &one )ith a h n&ry ,elly, an# hal( !tar%e# their (amilie!. silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, put out the kitchen fire- The!e are not the ne*e!!arie! o( li(e. they *an !*ar*ely ,e *alle# the *on%enien*ie!, an# yet only ,e*a !e they look 'retty, ho) many )ant to ha%e them- The arti(i*ial )ant! o( mankin# th ! ,e*ome more n mero ! than the nat ral. an#, a! /oor <i*k !ay!, for one 'oor person, there are an hundred in#i&ent- By the!e, an# other e5tra%a&an*ie!, the &enteel are re# *e# to 'o%erty, an# (or*e# to ,orro) o( tho!e )hom they (ormerly #e!'i!e#, , t )ho thro &h in# !try an# (r &ality ha%e maintaine# their !tan#in&. in )hi*h *a!e it a''ear! 'lainly, that a ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- /erha'! they ha%e ha# a !mall e!tate le(t them, )hi*h they kne) not the &ettin& o(. they think 'tis day, and will never be night. that a little to ,e !'ent o t o( !o m *h, i! not )orth min#in&. -a child and a fool, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, imagine twenty shillings and twenty years can never be spent. , t, always taking out of the meal

tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom. then, a! /oor <i*k !ay!, when the well's dry, they know the worth of water- B t thi! they mi&ht ha%e kno)n ,e(ore, i( they ha# taken hi! a#%i*e. if you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some, (or, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing, an# in#ee# !o #oe! he that len#! to ! *h 'eo'le, )hen he &oe! to &et it in a&ain- /oor <i*k (arther a#%i!e!, an# !ay!, ,ond pride of dress, is sure a very curse% /'er fancy you consult, consult your purse# 3n# a&ain, pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy- When yo ha%e ,o &ht one (ine thin& yo m !t , y ten more, that yo r a''earan*e may,e all o( a 'ie*e. , t /oor <i*k !ay!, 'tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it- 3n# 0ti! a! tr ly (olly (or the 'oor to a'e the ri*h, a! (or the (ro& to !)ell, in or#er to e+ al the o5Great estates may venture more, 0ut little boats should keep near shore# 0Ti! ho)e%er a (olly !oon ' ni!he#. (or pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- 3n# in another 'la*e, pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy- 3n# a(ter all, o( )hat !e i! thi! pride of appearance, (or )hi*h !o m *h i! ri!ke#, !o m *h i! ! ((ere#4 $t *annot 'romote health. or ea!e 'ain. it make! no in*rea!e o( merit in the 'er!on, it *reate! en%y, it ha!ten! mi!(ort ne+hat is a butterfly1 )t best (e's but a caterpillar dressed# $he gaudy fop's his picture 2ust, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!2B t )hat ma#ne!! m !t it ,e to r n in #e,t (or the!e ! 'er(l itie!: We are o((ere#, ,y the term! o( thi! %en# e, !i5 month!0 *re#it. an# that 'erha'! ha! in# *e# !ome o( ! to atten# it, ,e*a !e )e *annot !'are the rea#y money, an# ho'e no) to ,e (ine )itho t it- B t, ah, think )hat yo #o )hen yo r n in #e,t. you give to another power over your liberty- $( yo *annot 'ay at the time, yo )ill ,e a!hame# to !ee yo r *re#itor. yo )ill ,e in (ear )hen yo !'eak to him, yo )ill make 'oor 'iti( l !neakin& e5* !e!, an# ,y #e&ree! *ome to lo!e yo %era*ity, an# !ink into ,a!e #o)nri&ht lyin&. (or, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!, the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt- 3n# a&ain to the !ame ' r'o!e, lying rides upon debt's back# Wherea! a (ree,orn An&li!hman o &ht not to ,e a!hame# or a(rai# to !ee or !'eak to any man li%in&- B t 'o%erty o(ten #e'ri%e! a man o( all !'irit an# %irt e7 'tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright, a! /oor "i*har# tr ly !ay!- What )o l# yo think o( that /rin*e, or that &o%ernment, )ho !ho l# i!! e an e#i*t (or,i##in& yo to #re!! like a &entleman or a &entle)oman, on 'ain

o( im'ri!onment or !er%it #e4 Wo l# yo not !ay, that yo are (ree, ha%e a ri&ht to #re!! a! yo 'lea!e, an# that ! *h an e#i*t )o l# ,e a ,rea*h o( yo r 'ri%ile&e!, an# ! *h a &o%ernment tyranni*al4 3n# yet yo are a,o t to ' t yo r!el( n#er that tyranny )hen yo r n in #e,t (or ! *h #re!!: @o r *re#itor ha! a thority at hi! 'lea! re to #e'ri%e yo o( yo r li,erty, ,y *on(inin& yo in &aol (or li(e, or to !ell yo (or a !er%ant, i( yo !ho l# not ,e a,le to 'ay him: When yo ha%e &ot yo r ,ar&ain, yo may, 'erha'!, think little o( 'ayment. , t creditors, /oor "i*har# tell! !, have better memories than debtors, an# in another 'la*e !ay!, creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times- The #ay *ome! ro n# ,e(ore yo are a)are, an# the #eman# i! ma#e ,e(ore yo are 're'are# to !ati!(y it- Br i( yo ,ear yo r #e,t in min#, the term )hi*h at (ir!t !eeme# !o lon&, )ill, a! it le!!en!, a''ear e5tremely !hort- Time )ill !eem to ha%e a##e# )in&! to hi! heel! a! )ell a! !ho l#er!- $hose have a short 3ent, !aith /oor "i*har#, who owe money to be paid at /aster- Then !in*e, a! he !ay!, the borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor, #i!#ain the *hain, 're!er%e yo r (ree#om. an# maintain yo r in#e'en#en*y7 ,e in# !trio ! an# (ree. ,e (r &al an# (ree- 3t 're!ent, 'erha'!, yo may think yo r!el( in thri%in& *ir* m!tan*e!, an# that yo *an ,ear a little e5tra%a&an*e )itho t inj ry. , t, ,or age and want, save while you may% 'o morning sun lasts a whole day, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- Cain may ,e tem'orary an# n*ertain, , t e%er )hile yo li%e, e5'en!e i! *on!tant an# *ertain. an# 'tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- 9o rather go to bed supperless than rise in debtGet what you can, and what you get hold% '$is the stone that will turn all your lead into gold, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!- 3n# )hen yo ha%e &ot the 'hilo!o'her0! !tone, ! re yo )ill no lon&er *om'lain o( ,a# time!, or the #i((i* lty o( 'ayin& ta5e!2Thi! #o*trine, my (rien#!, i! rea!on an# )i!#om. , t a(ter all, #o not #e'en# too m *h 'on yo r o)n in# !try, an# (r &ality, an# 'r #en*e, tho &h e5*ellent thin&!, (or they may all ,e ,la!te# )itho t the ,le!!in& o( hea%en. an# there(ore a!k that ,le!!in& h m,ly, an# ,e not n*harita,le to tho!e that at 're!ent !eem to )ant it, , t *om(ort an# hel' them- "emem,er 1o, ! ((ere#, an# )a! a(ter)ar#! 'ro!'ero !23n# no) to *on*l #e, experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that, (or it i! tr e, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!7 ho)e%er, remem,er thi!, they that won't be counseled, can't be helped, a! /oor "i*har# !ay!7 an# (arther, that if you will not hear reason, she'll surely rap your knuckles#2

Th ! the ol# &entleman en#e# hi! haran& e- The 'eo'le hear# it, an# a''ro%e# the #o*trine, an# imme#iately 'ra*ti*e# the *ontrary, j !t a! i( it ha# ,een a *ommon !ermon. (or the %en# e o'ene#, an# they ,e&an to , y e5tra%a&antly, not)ith!tan#in& all hi! *a tion!, an# their o)n (ear o( ta5e!- $ (o n# the &oo# man ha# thoro &hly !t #ie# my almana*!, an# #i&e!te# all $ ha# #ro''e# on tho!e to'i*! # rin& the *o r!e o( (i%e-an#-t)enty year!- The (re+ ent mention he ma#e o( me m !t ha%e tire# any one el!e, , t my %anity )a! )on#er( lly #eli&hte# )ith it, tho &h $ )a! *on!*io ! that not a tenth 'art o( the )i!#om )a! my o)n )hi*h he a!*ri,e# to me, , t rather the &leanin&! $ ha# ma#e o( the !en!e o( all a&e! an# nation!- 6o)e%er, $ re!ol%e# to ,e the ,etter (or the e*ho o( it. an# tho &h $ ha# at (ir!t #etermine# to , y !t (( (or a ne) *oat, $ )ent a)ay re!ol%e# to )ear my ol# one a little lon&er- "ea#er, i( tho )ilt #o the !ame, thy 'ro(it )ill ,e a! &reat a! mine- $ am, a! e%er, thine to !er%e thee, "i*har# 9a n#er!1 ly 7, 1757-