Benjamin Franklin

By this generous civility (so opposite to the unfairness above forbidden) you may, indeed, happen to lose the game to your opponent, but you will win what is better, his esteem, his respect, and his affection, together with the silent…

If your situation in life is a sedentary one, your amusements, your recreations, at least, should be active.

What can be expected from such a course of living, but a body replete with stagnant humours, ready to fall a prey to all kinds of dangerous maladies, if I, the gout, did not occasionally bring you relief by agitating these humours, and so…

Flatter yourself then no longer, that half an hour's airing in your carriage deserves the name of exercise.

Providence has appointed few to roll in carriages, while he has given to all a pair of legs, which are machines infinitely more commodious and serviceable.

How absurd to suppose, that all this carelessness can be reconcileable with health, without my interposition!

Franklin.--I am convinced now of the justness of poor Richard's remark, that, "Our debts and our sins are always greater than we think for.

Is it not I, who, in the character of your physician, have saved you from the palsy, dropsy, and apoplexy? one or other of which would have done for you long ago, but for me.

Franklin.--I submit, and thank you for the past, but intreat the discontinuance of your visits for the future: for in my mind one had better die, than be cured so dolefully.

Why then should we grieve, that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their happy society?

That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God.

He, who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, since the pain goes with it: and he, who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and possibilities of pains and diseases, it was liable to, or capable of making him suffer.

Happy people! thought I, you live certainly under a wise, just, and mild government, since you have no public grievances to complain of, nor any subject of contention, but the perfections or imperfections of foreign music.

My present friends are the children and grand-children of the friends of my youth, who are now, alas no more!

The characters of good men are exemplary, and often stimulate the well disposed to an imitation, beneficial to mankind, and honourable to themselves.

Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not performed with solicitous care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils.

The unhappy man, who has long been treated as a brute animal, too frequently sinks beneath the common standard of the human species.

The galling chains, that bind his body, do also fetter his intellectual faculties, and impair the social affections of his heart.

Accustomed to move like a mere machine, by the will of a master, reflection is suspended; he has not the power of choice; and reason and conscience have but little influence over his conduct, because he is chiefly governed by the passion…

In short, no inconveniencies, but great and many advantages have accrued, from the assembly's prudent care and management of these funds.

Some wit of old--such wits of old there were-- Whose hints show'd meaning, whose allusions care, By one brave stroke to mark all human kind, Call'd clear blank paper ev'ry infant mind; When still, as opening sense her dictates wrote, Fair…

Pray note the fop--half powder and half lace-- Nice, as a bandbox were his dwelling-place: He's the gilt-paper, which apart you store, And lock from vulgar hands in the 'scrutoire.

The retail politician's anxious thought Deems this side always right, and that stark nought; He foams with censure; with applause he raves-- A dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves; He'll want no type his weakness to proclaim, While such a…

Observe the maiden, innocently sweet, She's fair white-paper, an unsullied sheet; On which the happy man, whom fate ordains, May write his name, and take her for his pains.

One instance more, and only one I'll bring; 'Tis the great man who scorns a little thing, Whose thoughts, whose deeds, whose maxims are his own, Form'd on the feelings of his heart alone: True genuine royal-paper is his breast; Of all the…