Frankly Speaking…Exploring

Benjamin Franklin’s

Aphorisms

Who was Benjamin Franklin, The

Man?

• He was a printer, journalist, author, scientist, diplomat, educator, and philosopher…all with no formal education

• Born in Boston in 1706; one of seventeen children

• Left Boston at seventeen years old to open his own print shop

• After establishing himself as a printer, he began publishing a newspaper and an annual publication called Poor Richard’s Almanack

Who is Benjamin Franklin, The

Scientist?

• When he was forty-two, Franklin retired from printing and

became a successful scientist

• He was responsible for inventing: the lightning rod, bifocal

glasses, new type of stove; confirming the laws of electricity;

scientific understanding of earthquakes and ocean currents

Who is Benjamin Franklin, The

Diplomat?

• He played an important role in drafting the

Declaration of Independence, enlisting French

support during the Revolutionary War, negotiating a

peace treaty with Britain, and drafting the United

States Constitution

• In later years, he was ambassador first to England

and then to France

What is Poor Richard’s Almanack?

• Franklin created a fictitious author called “Richard Saunders”

• Contained practical information about the calendar, the sun and moon, and the weather

• Also, featured homespun sayings and observations…many of which are still quoted today

• These aphorisms* made the Almanack a bestseller! Franklin put an aphorism at the top or bottom of most pages.

What’s an aphorism?

• A short, concise statement expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth

• A variety of devices make aphorisms easy to remember ryhmes; repeated words or sounds; paralell structure to present contrasting ideas

“No Pain, No Gain”

uses rhyme, repetition and

parallel structure

Aphorisms Today

• “No pain, No gain” ~Unknown

• “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” ~Unknown

• “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “Believe nothing what you hear and only half of what you see” ~Mark Twain

• “Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it” ~ George Santayana

What aphorisms do you know?

• You see sayings like the ones

on the previous slide on

bumper stickers, T-shirts, and

billboards.

• Can you think of an example

of a contemporary aphorism?

What does it say about our

culture?

As the saying goes… or

Como dice el dicho

Some of you might be familiar with the popular Mexican drama series, Como Dice El Dicho, in which each episode dramatizes a popular saying into a real-life story. “Dichos” are aphorisms. What “dichos” do you know?

Writing Exercise #17

1. Choose any aphorism that speaks to you in some way and

write it down. Explain the aphorism’s literal meaning, the

idea the aphorism expresses, or provide a real world

example that connects to the aphorism’s meaning.

2. Choose one of Franklin’s aphorisms from List #1 on the

next slide. Explain…

3. Choose one of Franklin’s aphorisms from List #2 on the

slide after the next. Explain…

At the working man’s house hunger looks in but dares not enter.

Industry pays debts while despair increases them.

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

God gives all things to industry.

Plough deep while sluggards sleep and you shall have corn to sell and to

keep.

Work while it is called today for you know not how much you may be

hindered tomorrow.

One today is worth two tomorrows.

List #1

• Trouble springs from idleness and grievous toil from needless ease.

• Industry gives comfort and plenty and respect.

• Keep thy shop and thy shop will keep thee.

• If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.

• Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge.

• Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open.

• If you would have a faithful servant and one that you like — serve

yourself.

List #2

Choose an aphorism from any Poor Richard’s Almanack publication.

Explain it, much the same way you did for today’s writing exercise.

Make a poster (8 ½ x 11 or larger) that includes the aphorism.

Or

Choose words of wisdom by anonymous writers or attributed to

someone other than Franklin.

Explain which of Franklin’s 13 virtues it embodies.

Make a poster (8 ½ x 11 or larger) like the ones framed in my room.

Optional Assignment Due Friday, Dec. 15th

From Poor Richard’s

Almanack:

Example of Silence

Virtue #2