Proverbs In Things All Far Apart

Thesis: In his autobiography, Franklin is undoubtedly concerned with developing virtue and self-improvement, but relies on others as the primary frame of reference for his own progress, always measuring himself with others. This habit of comparison results in the development of vices as well as virtues.

I think the meaning of this is what it says. You get what you give. Whatever you do will always affect you and who you are.

I found this article interesting because the people I know, myself included seemed to always find oneself comparing to success by the annual income from an occupation. That ideal was rooted from Benjamin Franklin himself. The man who came from very little, and persevered into becoming a rich, intelligent, role model for many of his age. This article related to Benjamin Franklin from America happily revising their definition

Franklin, himself climbed the ranks society “having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which [he] was born and bred to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world” (Franklin 27). He had been raised by a humble middle class family, not being promised much wealth or land, forcing him to make a name for himself. Franklin, a man of the enlightenment,

His autobiography is the first example of the completion of the American Dream. Franklin talks about his life history as an example to exemplify the most significant American character and principles, like strength of mind, self-reliance, determination, hard work, penny-pinching, and dependence on a code of moral principles are the elements of achievement. He describes how he became an excellent citizen through lack of money and steady assiduousness. Franklin established the potential of life in the New World through his own rise of the social classes. His family was poor when he was a child, but despite that, he became a very rich and influential man. In addition, he declares that he pulled off his achievements through a diligent work ethic. He showed that even ordinary people in Boston possibly would, through industry, turn out to be great people of significance in America.

Franklin was not always wealthy- he started out as a member of the lower middle class and eventually with hard work rose to be one of the most admirable men in America. When Franklin wrote his book “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” he displayed a set of twenty six metaphors that can be taken as wise words for all to listen, see, and interperet. One of the aphorisms I have come to choose is “Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” (Franklin)

Franklin also believed that “industry and thrift were being destroyed by aid to the poor,” (Stern & Axinn, 2012, p.28-29). He associated this with the law of nature and God, by stating that by providing aid for these individuals we are going against what God wanted for them. This went along with the view that had been developing at this time, that if someone was living in poor circumstances or had a tragedy occur it must be due to their own sins and their misfortune must have been a punishment from

The Journey to the West is a very well-known Chinese novel to people outside of the Confucian culture – it has an immediate appeal that transcends cultural differences. The Confucian principles, jen and li, are found within the interactions with the villagers, the woodcutter, and Patriarch Subodhi.

He was a writer, diplomat, American printer, philosopher, and scientist. “Franklin recognized at a very young age his own weaknesses, as well as the weaknesses of others that led to their failures” (Murphy n.d.). The most valuable part of Franklin's autobiography may have been his description of his self-improvement project. Coming from such a considerably large family of siblings, and his father being a poor candle and soap maker is what started Franklin on his journey to self-improvement. With fewer than two years of education, he started his life as a young boy on his own. The key points that he represents in his autobiography are not only for his own self-improvement, but they are beneficial to anyone who reads them. There were thirteen written moral virtues that Ben Franklin addressed in his autobiography. Based on these virtues Franklin does an outstanding job of portraying a man who has acquired the importance of morality. While he did not perfect them himself, Franklin states “that he was never able to live the virtues perfectly, but felt he had become a better and happier man for having made the attempt” (Brett & Kate McKay n.d.).

One of the greatest classic novels in American history, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, lends itself to be an indispensible literary work that reinforces and challenges the core values and ideals that Benjamin Franklin expresses in his Autobiography. In the provided passage, the young Franklin arrives in Philadelphia in hopes of becoming a new self-made man and begins his journey with little money and few resources much like Gatsby. After arriving by boat, he tries to pay the people of the boat for his voyage but his payment is initially refused because he rowed the boat in order to get to Philadelphia. Franklin insists that they take his payment and says “A man is sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when

Just this small page revealed more to the reader than many other articles about Franklin can. A perfectionistic attitude within the usually glorified hero of America. He was very hard on himself, and clearly tried to live a frugal lifestyle. As a historic character who is often glorified, this human perspective was

Chinua Achebe’s critically acclaimed novel Things Fall Apart tells the story of a decorated and powerful chief of the Igbo village tribe named Okonkwo. Okonkwo is a strong independent man who came up from nothing in his life and refused to return to earth as the same way he started, he believed he was destined for greatness. Perhaps Okonkwo’s most driving factor for this is his father died a beggar and he became disgusted how his father went out with no achievements or accomplishments to his name. Okonkwo is very prideful as a result of his humble upbringing and believes that the only way one can be successful is through Old Ways of the Igbo Tribe. As a result, Okonkwo is hell-bent

Franklin sites a strong work ethic throughout his autobiography as a means of advancement in life. At 17 years of age, he ran away to New York and the first thing he did was to seek suitable employment. After experiencing many a hardship Franklin remained resolved and finally established himself in Philadelphia were he found work and much favor with whomever he acquainted himself with. He firmly was against wasting time on frivolous activities and encouraged the reader to mind their business and be industrious in all things. This too was a practice he implemented his whole life and was the reason he was rewarded on several occasions with better opportunities and advancement in business.

While Benjamin Franklin was a great man, this book has become quite famous and therefore could be interpreted in several different fashions. Several accounts in his life show how Franklin was a bitter man who managed to achieve much more than others. Several people he met in his life are thrown aside because they are either inferior or lack the determination that Franklin so frequently mentions. He famously insults John Collins by calling him a drunk who never accomplished anything with his work. Collins was perhaps a lazy man where drinking hindered his reasoning, willingness to work, and approachability. With a final fight Franklin tossed him into a river for refusing to row their boat, Collins leaves with the promise that he will repay

The first century Roman philosopher Seneca said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” A lot of folks have echoed that sentiment over the millennia. Luck favors those who don’t depend upon it. Sure, some things are mostly about luck. Las Vegas comes to mind. But mostly, we must make our own luck by taking advantage of every opportunity we recognize or create.