Items related to The Life and Miscellaneous Writings of Benjamin Franklin
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1839 Excerpt: ...is too commonly misapplied, and often ill employed. Some, to make themselves considerable, pursue learning; others grasp at wealth; some aim at being thought witty; and others are only careful to make the most of an handsome person: but what is wit, or wealth, or form, or learning, when compared with virtue! It is true wo love tho handsome, we applaud the learned, and we fear the rich and powerful; but we even worship and adore the virtuous. Nor is it strange; since men of virtue arc so rare, so very rare, to bo found. If we were as industrious to become good as to make ourselves great, we should become really great by being good, and tho number of valuable men would be much increased; but it is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness; and I pronounce it as certain, that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous. O Cretico! thou sour philosopher, thou cunning statesman, thou art crafty, but far from being wise! When wilt thou be esteemed, regarded, and beloved like Cato! When wilt thou, among thy creature) 44 THE BUSY-BODY. meet with that unfeigned respect, and warm good-will, that all men have for him I Wilt thou never understand, that the cringing, mean, submissive deportment of thy dependents, is (like the worship paid by Indians to the devil) rather through fear of the harm thou mayst do them, than out of gratitude for the favours they have received of thee! Thou art not wholly void of virtue; there are many good things in thee, and many good actions reported of thee. Be advised by thy friend: neglect those musty authors; let them be covered with dust, and moulder on their proper shelves; and do thou apply thyself to a study much more profitable--the knowledge of mankind, and of thyself. This is ...
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- PublisherRarebooksclub.com
- Publication date2012
- ISBN 10 1130581993
- ISBN 13 9781130581997
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages114
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