The Guide to Amass Franklins - What Ben Franklin Teaches about the Protestant Work Ethics

[TheBlackAdder]

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Perhaps it is time to remind Conservatives, that the world is not completely money-centric, even when reading Benjamin Franklin's 1758 Poor Richard's Almanac essay called, "The Way To Wealth."

Listed below are the main Protestant Work Ethics extracted from this piece.


ON PRODUCTIVITY, EVEN DURING LEISURE ACTIVITIES -

"It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part of their time, to beemployed in its service. But idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments or amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth,by bringing on diseases, absolutely shortens life. Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep! forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality, since, as he elsewhere tells us, lost time is never found again, and what we call time-enough, always proves little enough: let us then be up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy, as Poor Richard says; and he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night. While laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him, as we read in Poor Richard, who adds, drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Initially, the work broaches the subject of unproductiveness. The text refers to this as “sloth,” the destructive practice of “wasting time” (1). Poor Richard conveys this loss most effectively when saying; “lost time is never found again” (1); referring to the finite time, a person has on earth and what they do with it. The foundation of unproductive behavior segues to its opposite, the ethic of industriousness, or industry. This Protestant work ethic reinforces the need to work diligently and to not waste time. Numerous quotes in this section deal with topics such as sleep habits, idleness, productivity, the detriments of false hope, and persistence. There is also a divine reference, stating, “God gives all things to industry” (2). Poor Richard’s most famous queue, “early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” (2) targets the need for proper sleep habits to aid in human vitality. Another declares, “a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things” (2), referring to a person’s productivity during leisure times.


ON FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP TO PROTECT ONE'S HOUSE -

And farther, what maintains one vice, would bring up two children. You may think perhaps that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great Matter; but remember what Poor Richard says, many a little makes a mickle, and farther, beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship, and again, who dainties love, shall beggars prove, and moreover, fools make Feasts, and wise men eat them.
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And again, pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing you must buy ten more, that your appearance maybe all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, 'tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. And 'tis as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell, in order to equal the ox.

The speaker gives advice on the Protestant work ethic of frugality. Money management creates a stable and secure household and business. Poor Richard warns that “a small leak will sink a great ship” (3-4), describing how little financial looses will amass to huge over time and can threaten the stability of the home. The related ethic of pride might cause a person to overspend on frivolous items used to impress others. Poor Richard warns to withhold the temptations of such a purchase since “’tis easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it” (4). Purchasing items in restaurants and buying fancy clothes are expensive commodities that have a short use and little return and can quickly drain household funds. When one reflects on their purchases, and their costs and what assets remain in their possession, the reality of wasted expenditures becomes evident.


ON DEBT, LYING, AND SERVITUDE TO ONE'S CREDITOR -

"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this vendue, six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him, you will make poor pitiful sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose you veracity, and sink into base downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. And again to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt's back. Whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: 'tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright, as Poor Richard truly says. What would you think of that Prince, or that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or a gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not say, that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and such a government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that tyranny when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor has authority at his pleasure to deprive you of your liberty, by confining you in gaol for life, or to sell you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him! When you have got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but creditors, Poor Richard tells us, have better memories than debtors, and in another place says, creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are prepared to satisfy it. Or if you bear your debt in mind, the term which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extreamly short. Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as shoulders. Those have a short Lent, saith Poor Richard, who owe money to be paid at Easter. Then since, as he says, the borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor, disdain the chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free.

Once in financial distress, the need to borrow might occur. The incurrence of debt is easily achieved and hard to eradicate, granting “another power over your liberty” (5). If the debt is severe or the creditors demand payment, the possibility of “confining your in [jail]” (5). As Poor Richard warns, “The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor” (5). That warning holds true, because the debtor must maintain payments to the creditor without any lapse in repayment terms or else items like the interest rate, a demand for immediate payment or possible incarceration may result. Besides the loss of money in interest fees, the mental anguish over managing a debt load can be taxing to the human spirit.


ON CHARITY -

"This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things, for they may all be blasted without the blessing of heaven; and therefore ask that blessing humbly, and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous.

Towards the conclusion of this essay, another Protestant work ethic element surfaces. Poor Richard advises people to “be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort and help them” (6). Due to unforeseen circumstances, anyone can find their lives in turmoil, requiring help. Those who are fortunate should not forget that.


https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/coretexts/_files/resources/texts/1758%20Franklin%20Wealth.pdf

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[Igel]

1. One easily forgets when reading works of classical liberalism

that the politics being discussed, and the economics being encouraged, do not and cannot exist in a vacuum.

All the virtues of selfishness and self-interest that were preached were preached precisely against a backdrop of being told to look out for the poor and have mercy on the needy. Think of it as a kind of balance. But if you lose the balance, then you get a deeply distorted, unproductive, therefore unprosperous, therefore poor society.... And in a poor society, everybody's more equal but not in a good way.


Franklin is reported to have said, in response to whether we had a republic or a monarchy, "A republic, if you can keep it." In other words, it would be hard to maintain given what people would want--strong rulers. For example, many in the past have been truly pissed off at the lack of the president's ability to issue an executive order to do all kinds of things. Then, in the next breath, having demonstrated they don't understand the Constitution, complain about the lack of civics education in the US. What they want is for what they want to be done or provided; everything else is a pretext, but only a principle to be upheld when it's a strut upholding what they personally want done or provided.


For a democracy, Franklin would have said you needed and educated and a virtuous populace. He was from New England, which was a bastion of education and literacy at the time. Far from perfect, at least it knew the difference between an ideal and the often feeble attempts at reaching those ideals, recognizing that failing to achieve perfection doesn't tarnish the idea of perfection.


Other quotes--apocryphal for all I know--"laws without morals are in vain" and "only a virtuous people are capable of freedom" (continuing that as the people become corrupt, they are more in need of masters, i.e., strong rulers to tell them what to do and how to behave). There's also one about not selling morals for wealth or liberty for power.

[msongs]

2. a $3 starbucks every day is $1095.00 a year down the drain nt