Posted on 08/10/2004 8:45:56 PM PDT by pubmom
According to Benjamin Franklin himself, many of the proverbs and aphorisms found in "Poor Richard's Almanack" were gleaned from the "wisdom of the ages and nations." In the dictums and maxims that follow, one hears echoes of the Bible, the ancients, and collections of proverbs readily available in Franklin's own time. Yet, in recrafting many older sayings, Franklin, who was among other things an inventor and musician, brought new design and melody to timeworn truisms. Franklin once created a list of 13 virtues to live by. This baker's dozen included temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. The reader will see these virtues emphasized again and again in these quotes culled from Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack."
Did Franklin himself listen to Poor Richard's advice? Sometimes. Sometimes not.
"Be temperate in wine, in eating, girls, and cloth, or the Gout will seize you and plague you both," Franklin wrote. Franklin relished his food, basked in the company of women, and at times used items of apparel to influence the way people perceived him. And, indeed, gout plagued Franklin for much of his life.
One thing that makes these aphorisms so compelling is that Franklin, while divine in apprehension, was in action very much a mortal. Take these morsels in moderation -- Franklin would have it no other way.
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Eat to live, and not live to eat.
After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
Fish and visitors stink after three days.
To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.
Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.
What you seem to be, be really.
Tim was so learned, that he could name a horse in nine Languages. So ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on.(This made me think of Teraaayzza.)
People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.
He that speaks much, is much mistaken.
Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd, and never well mended.
Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a folly.
To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote.
| 29 Jul 2004 | Joseph Sobran
After listening to two nights of the Democrats’ Boston convention, I thought of the expression “It’s all over but the shouting.” This convention was almost all shouting.
I’m writing on the final day; John Kerry will give his acceptance speech tonight. I’m going to take a wild stab and predict that he will shout too.
He always does. Like his mentor Ted Kennedy, Kerry understands oratory as an assault on the audience’s eardrums. Kerry’s problem as a campaigner is said to be that he creates no excitement. I’d say his problem is that when he speaks, he seems to be the only one in the room who is excited. And you’re not at all sure he means it.
The Democrats, still aping the overrated John F. Kennedy, have never learned to lower their voices. They still don’t realize that when you have a microphone, you don’t have to yell every sentence. Or that when you make a speech, you should build slowly to a climax. Volume alone doesn’t give the crowd a thrill; it may give them a headache. Most of the Democrats’ speakers were would-be rabble-rousers who could hardly rouse their own rabble. Mere decibels don’t turn cliches into eloquence.
Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra were great recording artists — as distinct from great singers — because they realized that with the mike and amplification they could afford to sing softly, giving each word and note its own weight. Their understated styles made them sensationally popular.
Franklin Roosevelt understood the principle and used radio to speak informally to a national audience with tremendous effect. He gave Fireside Chats, not Fireside Shouts.
But this year, Democrat after Democrat blasted our ears with forced and false passion. The much-heralded John Edwards, a trial lawyer who seems to regard the American public as one gigantic hick jury, roared his own acceptance speech, inviting the crowd to roar back. Barack Obama, also a heralded newcomer to national politics, adopted the stentorian style of the occasion.
One shining exception to this noisy monotony was the son of a Republican president. I disagreed with Ron Reagan, but I couldn’t help enjoying listening to him. He spoke as if having a quiet conversation with reasonable people. His style is very different from his legendary father’s, but he has the same gift for making you pay attention to what he says.
So, oddly enough, does Teresa Heinz Kerry. Her husband could take lessons from her. In her own low-key speech — by no means a great one — she conveyed a simple personal warmth, in striking contrast to all the screeching partisan harpies who had preceded her. She spoke like someone who really listens to others. Nobody has ever said that of her husband, who, like Ted Kennedy, hardly seems to listen to himself.
Mrs. Kerry didn’t try to excite passion. She chose a tone of quiet sincerity that was far more effective than the prevailing hot-button demagoguery. As with young Reagan, I found myself hanging on every word. You can tell at once when a speaker respects the audience’s intelligence.
It’s really that simple: Respect your audience, and try to earn their respect. John Kerry will never understand what his wife understands instinctively. He keeps trying to stir a passion he doesn’t feel himself through sheer hortatory bellowing. The charge that he is “aloof” and “Brahmin” really means that everyone feels his insincerity. It’s hard enough to endure someone who talks down to you. Kerry is worse: He shouts down to you.
G.K. Chesterton defended Charles Dickens against the charge of literary demagoguery by saying that Dickens didn’t just give the people what they wanted; he wanted what the people wanted. Kerry is trying to give us what we want, without seeming to want it himself.
Kerry is running a strangely joyless campaign. The shouting masks a forced optimism. He has the air, and even the careworn face, of a deeply disappointed man. Even his smiles seem forced. He may yet win the presidency by default; but why does he want to be president? Does anyone know?
None of the shouters at the Boston convention even began to touch the enigma of John Kerry. The real Kerry, if there is one, remains elusive. Many of his supporters spoke of his war record. But nobody suggested that he is a happy warrior.
An absolutely stunning, gut wrenching post about the conditions as a result of Charley.
Do you know the author personally?
No, I heard it on a local FM station earlier today...with all the folks reported as "missing," I fear for their well-being.
How are the crops progressing up there?
Driving to see my father, I noticed that the CenTex farmers have got all the wheat in, and are starting on their corn fields. We had the best weather in memory, but are now setting record low temps for the past three nights.
Strange weather, indeed.
An Irishman in a wheelchair entered a restaurant one afternoon and asked the waitress for a cup of coffee. The Irishman looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that Jesus sitting over there?"
The waitress nodded "Yes," so the Irishman told her to give Jesus a cup of coffee on him.
The next patron to come in was an Englishman with a hunched back. He shuffled over to a booth, painfully sat down, and asked the waitress for a cup of hot tea. He also glanced across the restaurant and asked her, "Is that Jesus over there?"
The waitress nodded, so the Englishman said to give Jesus a cup of hot tea, "My treat."
The third patron to come into the restaurant was a Redneck on crutches. He hobbled over to a booth, sat down and hollered, "Hey there, sweet thang. How's about gettin' me a cold glass of Coke!" He, too, looked across the restaurant and asked, "Is that God's boy over there?"
The waitress once more nodded, so the Redneck said to give Jesus a cold glass of Coke, "On my bill."
As Jesus got up to leave, he passed by the Irishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed."
The Irishman felt the strength come back into his legs, got up, and danced a jig out the door.
Jesus also passed by the Englishman, touched him and said, "For your kindness, you are healed."
The Englishman felt his back straightening up and he raised his hands, praised the Lord and did a series of back flips out the door.
Then Jesus walked towards the Redneck. The Redneck jumped up and yelled, "Don't touch me...I'm drawin' workers' comp!"
Heheh - isn't that the truth.
Mrs.L has tons of stories about folks scamming to get on Social Security Disability with their "back" problems; which is one of the very toughest to prove, or disprove. Unlike the military, which recognizes differing degrees of disabilities, the Social Security geniuses have an all, or nothing, program.
Like all government programs - it's a mess.
The crop looks good. It's raining a slow, gentle rain right now which will help to fill out the soybean pods. We haven't had much heat this summer so things are not maturing as rapidly as they would like for them to.
There's some Sudden Death in the beans. Nothing you can do about it at this point. Sudden death is caused by a fungus in the soil and the only way to prevent it is to plant varieties which are resistant to it.
I have a meeting in DM this afternoon at 4:00 so I'll be hitting the road soon.
Thanks for the crop update, and safe travels up there.
Rejection Lines given by Women (and What They Mean)
I think of you as a brother.
(You remind me of that inbred banjo-playing geek in "Deliverance.")
There's a slight difference in our ages.
(You are one Jurassic geezer.)
I'm not attracted to you in 'that' way.
(You are the ugliest jerk I've ever laid eyes upon.)
My life is too complicated right now.
(I don't want you spending the whole night or else you may hear phone calls from all the other guys I'm seeing.)
I've got a boyfriend
(who's really my male cat and a half gallon of Ben and Jerry's ice cream).
I don't date men where I work.
(Hey, bud, I wouldn't even date you if you were in the same 'solar system', much less the same building.)
It's not you, it's me.
(It's not me, it's you.)
I'm concentrating on my career.
(Even something as boring and unfulfilling as my job is better than dating you.)
I'm celibate.
(I've sworn off only the men like you.)
Hey, great news on Stewart! I've been off line a couple of days and am just catching up on the thread, now. Fantastic! I'll tell my parents to be sure and catch his play -- they are serious golfers - play every day -- I didn't inherit the golf gene but everyone else in the family plays.
Chris Heinz (Ketchup, Steak Sauce, Pickles...), who threw a "Pimps and Ho's" birthday bash for a rowdy bunch of their creative and sexy friends.
Todd Meister and Rena Sindi at Lara Shriftman and Chris Heinz' "Pimps and Ho's" birthday bash. April, 2001.
Verrrrry nice.
Good grief.
Is that what is referred to as a "Classless society?" :)
As is this foolish person:
SARAH Jessica Parker is so optimistic about John Kerry's chances that she's teaching her son, James Wilke Broderick, to call the Democratic nominee "President Kerry." While Parker shot the Gap campaign, insiders on the set were amused to see young James uttering "President Kerry." "It was really cute," said a witness. "And Sarah Jessica was talking about how great the Democratic National Convention in Boston was. She also said she and [hubby] Matthew [Broderick] were trying for another child." (PageSix)
In other news, PageSix reports "First Twins Jenna and Barbara Bush will host the opening bash for the GOP convention on Sunday, Aug. 29, at Roseland with Andre 3000, Stephen Baldwin [the only Baldwin boy with a brain, apparently], Barret Swatek ("7th Heaven"), actress Angie Harmon and hubby Jason Sehorn (St. Louis Rams) and Bo Derek. . ."
Andre 3000? Help.
Morning, everyone.
Good Morning down there.
Gee, poor Mrs. McGreevey, she didn't know...Yeah, right...
Great to have you back at your command center, DS.
We'll be headed to Lake Cumberland this coming Saturday for a week away from it...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.