As a pertinacious Obstinacy in Opinion, and confident Self-Sufficiency, is possibly one of the greatest Vices, as well as Weaknesses, that the human Mind is capable of; so on the contrary a Readiness to give up a loved Opinion, upon due Conviction, is as great a Glory, as well as Happiness, as we are here capable of attaining:…
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Reply to a Piece of Advice
Mr. Franklin, In your Paper of the 18th past, some Verses were inserted, said to be design’d as a PIECE OF ADVICE to a good Friend. As this Piece of Advice, if it had been intended for a particular Friend alone, might have been as well convey’d to him privately; I suppose the Author by getting…
Self-Denial Not the Essence of Virtue
To the Printer of the Gazette. That SELF-DENIAL is not the ESSENCE of VIRTUE. It is commonly asserted, that without Self-Denial there is no Virtue, and that the greater the Self-Denial the greater the Virtue. If it were said, that he who cannot deny himself in any Thing he inclines to, tho’ he knows it will be to his…
A Man of Sense
Mr. Franklin, `Being the other Day near the Meeting-House Corner with some Gentlemen, in the open Street, I heard the following Piece of Conversation; and penn’d it down as soon as I came home. I am confident it varies scarce any thing from what really passed; and as it pleased the By-standers, it may possibly…
On Protection of Towns from Fire
Mr. Franklin, Being old and lame of my Hands, and thereby uncapable of assisting my Fellow Citizens, when their Houses are on Fire; I must beg them to take in good Part the following Hints on the Subject of Fires. In the first Place, as an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure, I would…