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The late benjamin franklin analysis
Autobiography of benjamin franklin words
Autobiography of benjamin franklin words
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Born in 1706 as the eighth of 17 children to a Massachusetts soap and candlestick maker, the chances Benjamin Franklin would go on to become a gentleman, scholar, scientist, statesman, musician, author, publisher and all-around general genius were astronomically low, yet he did just that. Franklin wrote in the Age of Enlightenment, an intellectual revolution in the 18th century. The ideals of the enlightenment are still thought of today, as they are a part of the United States’ Declaration of Independence and Constitution. When one remembers Benjamin Franklin very few people are aware of the fact that he worked as a printer until the age of 42. As a printer he had access to substantial amounts of literature.
In Benjamin Franklin’s speech, he uses some phrases that are able to support his opinion on the faults of the constitution. He is willing to change his opinions for the benefit of our people. Ben Franklin believes that opinions are changed over time because even his opinions were changed as he matured and took the opinions of others into consideration. He stated that “- to change opinions even on the important subjects, which I once thought were right, but found to be otherwise.” It is crucial that people not only consider their opinions when making a decision, but also the views of others.
In the time period of “The Way to Wealth” it was a common trend to spend money on an extravagant lifestyle to show your wealth. The upper class liked to use materialistic objects to boast about their economic status and would often go into debt because of their frivolous spending. The more expensive objects one acquired the higher up in class they would seem. Franklin did not follow others with this furor as stated in his quote,"It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.” His attitude towards money was that it should be spent wisely and with a purpose.
“The lives of the Dead” is a small piece of literature that tells the story of a soldier by the name of Tim O’Brien who must come to terms with the fact that people die, both soldiers and innocent, in war; along with those he loves. Although at face value this is what the story portrays, it has a bigger and more meaningful behind it. The common aphorism “every cloud has a silver lining”, which states that something good can come out of any situation, is the grand message that is being portrayed. In many instances something in O’Brien’s life went astray that left him uneasy, but something good always came out of it that can be put to use in the real world to help others as well. Tim O’Brien’s The Lives of the Dead shares philosophical ideas with John Milton’s A Mask presented at Ludlow Castle in that every cloud has a silver lining.
At the start of the 18th century, the beginning of the Enlightenment was upon America. There were many factors and people who help play a part in the Enlightenment or, in other words, the Age of Reason, some of the people that assisted the enlightenment was Thomas Jefferson, John Locke, Benjamin Franklin, and John Adam. Each of the philosophers demonstrates the fundamental idea of the Enlightenment like liberalism, rationalism, conservatism, toleration and scientific progress. Even though each person played an important part, the most influences person that was involved was Benjamin Franklin. Throughout Benjamin Franklin`s life, he demonstrates through his action and writing that he was the epitome of the Enlightenment by showing that he was
Franklin values frugality so highly that he refers to as the way to wealth, freedom from debt, and “producing affluence and independence” (Franklin 38). Franklin goes as far as to “avoid all appearances to the contrary [of being frugal]”, by always dressing plainly when out in public and not being seen at expensive, “places of idle diversion” (Franklin 33). Franklin’s combined frugality and humble appearance worked in his favor, as he was seen as a “thriving young man” whom merchants would import stationery for and “others would supply . . . with books” (Franklin 33). This frugality of Franklin’s gave him social standing, success, and riches.
When Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was published in the eighteenth century, it reflected Franklin’s uncommon and advanced mindset during this time, considering that during this time humans were hanged for doubting the Revelation. In his Autobiography Franklin expresses skepticism towards religion and explains why he does not commit himself to one particular faith. However, Franklin respects the freedom of religion and highly promotes moral and virtues behavior. Franklin discusses his reflection on religion and the distinction between organized religions and beliefs that are not bound to religious systems. He stresses that organized religion and sects are more focused on following specific rules and practices, than concentrating on really
There were a lot of American men who had perfect influence on people’s mind of American society. Jonathan Edward and Benjamin Franklin were two of those writers, who were the most important and intellectual men, who left behind many admirable works for the future society. In spite of them being so intelligent, they have some different and similar views in terms of morality, personal responsibility, human nature, and limits of human knowledge and inform people how to live a better life. In addition, they were different in terms of religious inclinations. Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edward were both philosopher and had similar views in terms of informing people the right way to live in order to be successful and get salvation by reforming their mind in their life.
Prominent Rationalist Thomas Paine aptly illustrated many Rationalist beliefs of the time. As he wrote in Common Sense, “a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right.” His words indicate the Rationalist value questioning throughout life in order to properly discover the truth, and form beliefs. A further expansion of Rationalist views are seen in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, in which at one point, he goes into detail his conquest to live more perfectly through self-improvement towards his morals. He selects a list of morals based on his own faults, and where he is susceptible to fault, and takes it upon himself to seek to correct these.
While exsisting in a moralistic society, there are expectations and rules for people to follow. In relation, people follow differnt virtues so that they can live their life following moral standards within their hearts. In “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin,” Benjamin Franklin includes a list of his thirteen virtues of which he believes are the most significant in living a moral and righteous life. Although this list may have been wrote in the eighteenth century, many of the virtues still are prevailant as well as not in today’s society. Putting ones self first is a motto that many people in today’s generation put forward to demonstrait and signify.
These almanacs were presented yearly from 1732 to 1758. During these almanacs Benjamin Franklin adopted the pseudonym of “Poor Richard” or “Richard Saunders.” There are many different ways an individual might look at this quote. “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays best interest.”
Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.
In Selected Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, the novel is written so that the reader can challenge the social order that appears during the the Medieval times. While the narrator is describing the Monk he says, “His bulging eyes he rolled about, and hot / They gleamed and red, like fire beneath a pot;” (7:12-13) This quote is describing the monk, who is usually seen as a very calm and holy man, but is shown here as having the appearance of a devil. What Chaucer is illustrating is that even though most people believe that you need to be perfect in order to be a monk or part of the church really everyone has some evil or bad to them and that 's ok. The narrator is exemplifying that nobody is born perfect and even though that is what people
Edward Britton by Gary Crew and Philip Nielsen tells the story of young British boy, Edward Britton. Who he believes was wrongfully sent to Port Arthur. It illustrates the hardships and struggles of being transported to Port Arthur and living a convict life as a young boy. He was not afraid to tell people what he thought, and was very brave. He is very well educated, and is clearly far more smarter and talented than other convict boys.
As a result, Benjamin Franklin is a wise man, in order to create trusts from the members of the congress, he utilizes his ethos by accepting his fallibilities and willing to do good for the constitution to be
