My excerpts from the Richest Man in Babylon by Benjamin Franklin
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It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.
INDUSTRY
We are taxed twice as much by idleness, three times as much by our pride and the four times as much by our folly.
The government taxes 1/10 of your time. Idleness taxes your way more.
Laziness consumes faster than labour wears.
If you love life, do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.
The sleeping fox catches no poultry. There will be enough sleeping in the grave.
Lost time is never found again. What you feel is enough time is always not enough.
Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Don’t wish and hope for better times. We make these times better if we better ourselves.
At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry.
Plough deep while others sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
One today equals two tomorrows.
Constant droppings wear away stones. Little strikes fall great oaks.
SELF RELIANCE
Industry gives comfort, and plenty and respect.
Flee pleasures and they will follow you.
Oversee your affairs with your own eyes.
Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.
If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.
Trusting too much to others is the ruin of many.
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, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for want of a little care about a horse-shoe nail.
FRUGALITY
A fat kitchen makes a lean will.
If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship.
Want to know the value of money? Try borrowing some.
It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follows it.
For age and want, save while you may; No morning sun lasts a whole day.
Get what you can, and what you get hold.
CHARITY
Your industry, frugality and prudence could be brutal without the blessing from heaven.
Be charitable to those that seem to want it, comfort and help them.
EXPERIENCE
Learn from the experience of others.
CONCLUSION
You’re likely to practice the reverse of the above.
ADVICE TO A YOUNG WORKER
Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on.
The more of it there is, the more it produces every turning, so that profits rise quicker.
Killing a breeding sow destroys all her offspring to the thousandth generation.
The way to wealth depends on 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.
THE PATH OF VIRTUE
Nothing is more likely to make a man’s fortune as virtue. The virtues are:
- TEMPERANCE: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- SILENCE: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversations.
- ORDER: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- RESOLUTION: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
- FRUGALITY: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing.
- INDUSTRY: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
- SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- JUSTICE: Wrong none by doing injustice; or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- MODERATION: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- CLEANLINESS: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes, or habitation.
- TRANQUILITY: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- CHASTITY : Use the sex urge only for health or offspring, never for dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace and reputation.
- HUMILITY : Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Focusing on one virtue at a time might facilitate the acquisition of others. It’s arranged thus.
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