Name: _______________________________________ Class: _________Date: __________
Benjamin Franklin’s Aphorisms
Directions Part I: Read the biography of Benjamin Franklin on pages 71-74 of the textbook, and on
your own paper write five significant, interesting facts about Franklin.
Background Information (test material): Poor Richard’s Almanack was one of Franklin’s most
successful and profitable ventures. In fact the almanac’s success contributed to Franklin’s becoming
the first American millionaire. Poor Richard’s Almanack was published annually in America for over
twenty-five years. The almanac included information about astronomy and agriculture, as do most
farmers’ almanacs.
What set Franklin’s almanac apart from all others was the inclusion of bits of wisdom from its fictional
editor, “poor” and somewhat cynical Richard Saunders, who was one of the most famous “people” in
America. The bits of wisdom are called aphorisms, maxims, or proverbs. All three terms mean a brief
statement-usually one sentence-that expresses some truth about life in terse, easily remembered
form. A variety of devices make aphorisms easy to remember. Some contain rhymes or repeated
words or sounds; others use parallel structure to present contrasting ideas. The aphorism “no pain,
no gain,” for instance, uses rhyme, repetition, and parallel structure. Aphorisms stand the test of time
because they were written using memorable language and still apply to situations today. For more
information see pages 75-76 in the literature book.
For example:
“The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.”
This aphorism contains a metaphor. The wheel of the cart refers to a person who makes a lot of noise
(complains instead of pulling his own weight) and prevents projects or tasks from running smoothly.
“If you would keep a secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.”
An enemy will not find out your secret if the secret is not told to a friend. In other words, if you want to
keep something a secret, do not tell it to anyone-not even a friend.
Directions Part II: On the back of this page, you will find twenty of Benjamin Franklin’s aphorisms.
Write the idea of each one in your own words (paraphrase). For class discussion, be prepared to
explain why you think each idea expressed is still true today. Also, be prepared to share an anecdote
about a time you may have experienced the truth of each aphorism.
Sayings of “Poor Richard”
1.
Better is a little with content than much with contention.
2.
A good example is the best sermon.
3.
Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.
4.
A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.
5.
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
6.
He that scatters thorns, let him not go barefoot.
7.
Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
8.
Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
9.
Fish and visitors smell in three days.
10. He that lieth down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
11. Now that I have a sheep and a cow everybody bids me good morrow.
12. Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.
13. Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and are never well mended.
14. A truly great man will neither trample on a worm nor sneak to an emperor.
15. If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.
16. A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.
17. The sleeping fox catches no poultry.
18. When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.
19. A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.
20. If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in
knowledge always pays the best interest.