An Analysis Of Poor Richard's Almanac

Ben Franklin is one of the most popular figures in all of history. Of all of his accomplishments, one that stands out was the role of the author that he played as he wrote and published Poor Richard’s Almanac. Knowing of Ben Franklin’s accomplishments makes it no surprise that he would be an author, but the wisdom that abounds in this book is remarkable. There are so many one-liners, followed by, “as Poor Richard says.”, that carry a deep sense of knowledge and truth that made it no surprise that Franklin wrote the book. Traditional almanacs were used by farmers to coordinate sewing of seeds to harvest. It included calendars and movement of stars that were believed to have had an impact on agriculture. In Poor Richard’s Almanac the literature is set to a similar degree but not in the sense of agriculture, rather, the concept of a

“So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one’s own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our industry certainly more successful.” (Franklin 18) Franklin holds frugality to the same standard as being proactive and careful. Franklin writes, “Many estates are spent in the getting, Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting, And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.” (Franklin 18), and “Women and wine, game and deceit, make the wealth small and the wants great.” (Franklin 19)Franklin says that not only are people not being cautious with their business but the small amount of money they make is being squandered on things of luxury. Not to say that luxury is a bad thing, but there is a time and a place for all things. When one’s guard is let down, they become content with the current conditions. A snowball effect occurs and eventually one is left in a state where they cannot even obtain the necessities. Things of luxury are not to be avoided, but a fine medium of balance in needed to be prosperous in all aspects of