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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (1791) (edit title/settings)

by Benjamin Franklin (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

"The first book to belong permanently to literature. It created a man." -- From the Introduction Few men could compare to Benjamin Franklin. Virtually self-taught, he excelled as an athlete, a man of letters, a printer, a scientist, a wit, an inventor, an editor, and a writer, and he... read more

Summary edit see section history

From early boyhood through the 1750's Benjamin Franklin records his thoughts of - with amazing details - the people who affected him, various writings, including some letters he still had, Indian wars, his various jobs and government offices, and important moments and events in history. He is... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

From early boyhood through the 1750's Benjamin Franklin records his thoughts of - with amazing details - the people who affected him, various writings, including some letters he still had, Indian wars, his various jobs and government offices, and important moments and events in history. He is not shy about noting his accomplishments, many that there were(lucky for us), but also the times when things did not exactly go well for him. Sadly, he died before he finished his memoirs.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.”
  • “So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”
  • “There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin.”
  • “In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”
  • “The following instance will show something of the terms on which we stood. Upon one of his arrivals from England at Boston, he wrote to me that he should come soon to Philadelphia, but knew not where he could lodge when there, as he understood his old friend and host, Mr. Benezet, was removed to Germantown. My answer was, " You know my house; if you can make shift with its scanty accommodations, you will be most heartily welcome." He replied that if I made that kind offer for Christ's sake, I should not miss of a reward. And I returned, "Don't let me be mistaken; it was not for Christ's sake, but for your sake." One of our common acquaintance jocosely remarked that, knowing it to be the custom of the saints, when they received any favor, to shift the burden of the obligation from off their own shoulders, and place it in heaven, I had contrived to fixed it on earth.”
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  • 1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
    Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers
  • or unavoidable. 12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation. 13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
    Highlighted by 9 Kindle customers
  • 'He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.'
    Highlighted by 7 Kindle customers
  • 'That there is one God, who made all things. 'That he governs the world by his providence. 'That he ought to be worshiped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving. 'But that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to man. 'That the soul is immortal. 'And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice either here or hereafter.'
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.
    Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers
  • Human felicity is produc'd not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day.
    Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
  • we are apt to forget that more moments are to follow the first, and consequently that man should arrange his conduct so as to suit the whole of a life.
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  • Persons of good sense, I have since observed, seldom fall into it, except lawyers, university men, and men of all sorts that have been bred at Edinborough.
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  • as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.
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  • I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.
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Show all 15 quotes from this book

Organizations edit see section history

  • Quakers: Quakers are members of the Religious Society of Friends, a faith that emerged as a new Christian denomination in England during a period of religious turmoil in the mid-1600's, and is practiced today, in a variety of forms, around the world. To members of this religion, the words "Quaker"and "Friend" mean the same thing.
  • Moravians: The Moravian Church or Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine is an evangelical Protestant denomination. Its religious heritage began in 1457 in Kunvald, Bohemia (modern Czech Republic). Its official name is Unitas Fratrum<1> meaning Unity of the Brethren (not to be confused with the small Unity of the Brethren church based in Texas). It is also occasionally referred to as the Bohemian Brethren. It places a high premium on Christian unity, personal piety, missions and music.The church's emblem is the Lamb of God with the flag of victory, surrounded by the Latin inscription: Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur, or in English: "Our Lamb has conquered, let us follow Him".

First Sentence edit see section history

Dear son: I have ever had pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of my ancestors.

Glossary edit see section history

  • Freehold: ownership of land and the buildings on such land (as opposed to a leasehold estate where property reverts to the owner when the lease expires
  • Polemic Divinity: religious debate or discussion
  • Perspicuity: being clear and lucid
  • Pistoles: 1. A gold coin equal to two escudos (2.00 US money) formerly used in Spain.2. Any of several gold coins used in various European countries until the late 19th century
  • Nuncupative: Delivered orally to witnesses rather than written
  • Disquisition: A formal discourse on a subject, often in writing.
  • Trepan: to bore a cylindrical shaft
  • Confute: 1. To prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively.2. Obsolete To confound.
  • Captious: 1. Marked by a disposition to find and point out trivial faults: a captious scholar.2. Intended to entrap or confuse, as in an argument: a captious question.
  • Inculcate: 1. To impress (something) upon the mind of another by frequent instruction or repetition; instill: inculcating sound principles.2. To teach (others) by frequent instruction or repetition; indoctrinate: inculcate the young with a sense of duty.
  • Equitable: just and impartial
  • Pernicious: a. Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly: a pernicious virus.b. Causing great harm; destructive: pernicious rumors.2. Archaic Evil; wicked.
  • Heterodoxy: the state of being at variance with established doctrines or beliefs.
  • Synod: 1. A council or an assembly of church officials or churches; an ecclesiastical council.2. A council or an assembly.
  • Inimical: 1. Injurious or harmful in effect; adverse: habits inimical to good health.2. Unfriendly; hostile: a cold, inimical voice.
  • Calumniate: To make maliciously or knowingly false statements
  • Emolument: Payment for an office or employment; compensation.
  • Proselyte: A new convert to a doctrine or religion
  • Merlon: A solid portion between two crenels in a battlement or crenelated (indented or notched) wall
  • Extirpate: 1. To pull up by the roots.2. To destroy totally; exterminate.3. To remove by surgery.
  • Sophister: a. One skilled in elaborate and devious argumentation.b. A scholar or thinker.
  • Palisade: a. A fence of pales(pickets) forming a defense barrier or fortification.b. One of the pales of such a fence.2. palisades A line of lofty steep cliffs, usually along a river
  • Gill: Northern Brit dialect half a pint, esp of beer
  • Hautboy: Oboe
  • Entre Nous: French for between ourselves; in confidence
  • Sagacious: Having or showing keen discernment, sound judgment, and farsightedness
  • Groat: An English silver coin worth four pence, used from the 14th to the 17th century.
  • Capillaire: 1.A sirup prepared from the maiden-hair, formerly supposed to have medicinal properties.2.Any simple sirup flavored with orange flowers.
  • Rapacious: 1. Taking by force; plundering.2. Greedy; ravenous. 3. Subsisting on live prey.
  • Perruquier: a marker of perukes or wigs
  • Dram-drinker: one who habitually drinks small quantities of spirits or beer frequently throughout the day
  • Antient: Obsolete spelling of ancient
Show all 32 glossary entries

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 93 of 95 in The Art of Manliness' Essential Man’s Library. (authoritative list)
This is book 14 of 113 in Book Smart Reading List. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Benjamin Franklin (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Ormond Seavey (Editor)
  2. Leonard Woods Labaree (Editor)
  3. Ralph Louis Ketcham (Editor)
  4. Helen C. Boatfield (Editor)
  5. Helene M. Fineman (Editor)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: French
Publisher: Buisson
Country: France
Publication Date: 1791
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: 213

Classification edit see section history

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