How did Franklin make himself so effective a man? How did he succeed where
others failed? The secret lies in his practical philosophy of life.
Fortunately he bequeathed that secret to us in the maxims which he
composed for his own guidance during his voyage back to America from
England when he was twenty-two years of age. The pithy phrases are full of
vitality to-day.
Eat not to dulness; drink not to elevation.
Speak naught but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid
trifling conversation.
Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut
off all unnecessary actions.
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if
you speak, speak accordingly.
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or
unavoidable.
Drive thy business; let not thy business drive thee.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy,
and wise.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell
thy necessaries.
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half-shut
afterward.
They that won't be counseled can't be helped.
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.
Worldly wise, these maxims; but sound rules of conduct. Franklin was no
doddering _Polonius_, looking for advantage where others could have none.
He was worldly wise, but he employed his worldly wisdom to serve not only
himself but his friends, his neighbors, and finally his country.