The Autobiography and Other WritingsSignet Classic, 1961 - 352 pages Benjamin Franklin's writings represent a long career of literary, scientific, and political efforts over a lifetime which extended nearly the entire eighteenth century. Franklin's achievements range from inventing the lightning rod to publishing Poor Richard's Almanack to signing the Declaration of Independence. In his own lifetime he knew prominence not only in America but in Britain and France as well. This volume includes Franklin's reflections on such diverse questions as philosophy and religion, social status, electricity, American national characteristics, war, and the status of women. Nearly sixty years separate the earliest writings from the latest, an interval during which Franklin was continually balancing between the puritan values of his upbringing and the modern American world to which his career served as prologue. This edition provides a new text of the Autobiography, established with close reference to Franklin's original manuscript. It also includes a new transcription of the 1726 journal, and several pieces which have recently been identified as Franklin's own work. |
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Page 31
... wish well - meaning and sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive , assuming manner that seldom fails to disgust , tends to create opposition , and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was ...
... wish well - meaning and sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive , assuming manner that seldom fails to disgust , tends to create opposition , and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was ...
Page 205
... wish there never may be any here . But they suffer'd before they made such a Regulation , and so must we ; for Englishmen feel but cannot see ; as the Italian says of us . And it has pleased God , that in the Fires we have hitherto had ...
... wish there never may be any here . But they suffer'd before they made such a Regulation , and so must we ; for Englishmen feel but cannot see ; as the Italian says of us . And it has pleased God , that in the Fires we have hitherto had ...
Page 296
... wish'd he was married . " And don't you wish your Sisters married too ? " " Yes . All but Emily ; I would not have her married . " " Why ? " " Because I can't spare her , I can't part with her . The rest may marry as soon as they please ...
... wish'd he was married . " And don't you wish your Sisters married too ? " " Yes . All but Emily ; I would not have her married . " " Why ? " " Because I can't spare her , I can't part with her . The rest may marry as soon as they please ...
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
PART ONEThe Autobiography | 15 |
PART TWO Selected Writings | 182 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
acquainted advantage affairs afterwards American American Philosophical Society appeared Art of Virtue Assembly attended Benjamin Franklin Boston brother Carl Van Doren Colonies common continued dear desire electrical electrised endeavour England expence father favour fire friends gave give glass glass harmonica Governor hand heard horses Jane Mecom JONATHAN SHIPLEY Keimer kind lately learned letter lived lodging London ment never observed occasion officers opinion paper Parliament Pennsylvania perhaps person PETER COLLINSON Philadelphia piece pleasure Poor Richard says Poor Richard's Almanack present printer printing house proposed Proprietaries province Quakers received respect sailed sect seems sent Smyth sometimes soon Stamp Act Street surprized thing thou thought thro tion took town Union Fire Company virtue waggons wise writing wrote young youth