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.
Yes, those were the days, my friend.
We thought they'd NEVER end!
Has anyone heard from BWB? I don't know exactly where she lives, but when I was in Orlando a couple of years ago, she drove over to my hotel from her home,, I'm thinking she was less than a half hour away.
I hope she'll check in when she can.
Everything seems fine here for now, lots of rain but no real wind to speak of. I think we're supposed to get the worst of it around 8:30pm or so.
Here it comes.... Seminole County is that little smidge right above Orlando.
Here I am!! Mr. B delayed my post because he wanted to look at the radar. :-) Check it out in my above post.
Thanks for checking in.
I'm headed out to a Class Reunion "Pre" Party. The actual event is tomorrow night.
check in every couple of hours as you can. We worry about our friends.
Now for some news:
One-time radical activist Tom Hayden thinks that protests planned for the Republican National Convention will eclipse those he led against the party in Chicago in 1968."They'll be bigger by a thousandfold," Mr. Hayden told New York-based Indymedia.
"[Then Chicago Mayor Richard] Daley and the police really frightened people out of coming, and it was hardly a handful who were there," he recalled. "I think between 100,000 and ten times that many will be in New York." [I'm so important, I started it all! Bow to me the glorious Tom Hayden!]
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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last night introduced President Bush at a Los Angeles fund-raiser by unapologetically reprising his joke about Democrats being "girlie men."
"I just want you to know how hard I've been working for you here in California," Mr. Schwarzenegger said at a dinner that raised $3 million for the Republican Party, reports Bill Sammon of The Washington Times.
"I've been organizing Republicans for Bush-Cheney. I've been organizing Austrian-born bodybuilders for Bush-Cheney.
"I have even been organizing girlie-men for Bush-Cheney," the governor added, prompting raucous laughter from the party faithful.
********************************
As mountaineer would say, "Mr. Irreverent rides again:
Al Gore criticized President Bush's nomination of Rep. Porter J. Goss, eight-term Florida Republican, to lead the CIA, saying the president was using September 11 for political benefit, Associated Press reports.
In a speech yesterday before Music Row Democrats — a Nashville group formed to counter the image of country music as a bastion of Republicans — Mr. Gore said Mr. Bush "just thumbed his nose" at the bipartisan commission established to investigate the attacks.
"Is that the best person to come in and fix all these problems that the 9/11 commission told us about — when he's been out there as a partisan advocate dividing people on the subject of war and on the subject of intelligence?" Mr. Gore asked. {Goss has been "out there" dividing people on war and intel? Cough, sputter, cough, cough!] InsidePolitics
Wind is starting to pick up now, debris is brushing the roof and the power is almost flickering. Don't worry, we'll be ok!
I have even been organizing girlie-men for Bush-Cheney," the governor added, prompting raucous laughter from the party faithful.
***
Aha, aha, aha - you sick nazi-loving putz.
Take all your brood back to Austria, where you belong.
Message from BWB:
She is fine. The storm passed around 10. She has leaves all over but no other damage.
She will be without power for awhile.
BWB was the first thing I thought about this morning when I turned on the news. Thanks for letting us know they're OK. It looks bad.
Living down here I know how reasonable it seems to stay home and ride out the storm. Charlie has taught us again how unpredictable and cruel a hurricane can be. (Please remind me of that next time one is heading for the Alabama coast and I tell y'all I'm staying home!)
Need some big cheering for Stewart today!
He needs to finish in the top 10 to make it on the Ryder Cup team. He could be an optional pick by the team captain, but we'd love to seem him secure a spot without counting on that.
Thanks for reporting on BWB.
43 degrees here this morning.
We've been keeping an eye on Stewart's progress, and are so glad he made the cut. Of course, the moronic, sycophantic TV commentators are acting like he - and about 150 other guys - aren't out there. Didn't you know? The only golfers in Kohler are Els, Mickelson, Singh and el Tigger (no matter how many other guys are ahead of him). Arggghh. It's like listening to 12-year-old girls drooling over Justin Timberlake.
Will be cheering for Stewart today! Go man, go!
Apparently the Garden State governor, whose haircut levels out at around 5-foot-6, didn't like female staffers looming over him. Says the source, "It was not an official order, but it was understood that staffers in high heels made him uncomfortable." NY Daily News
____________
What the heck, it's Saturday:
Which blind item shouldn't you read over breakfast? The one about the married Hollywood star who had to delay filming of a movie because he got a nasty, nasty eye infection from his male assistant. You don't want to know. (NY Daily News)
More on McGreevey:
.... "It was pretty much an open secret even with him getting married two times," said Carmine Armenti, 72, a member of The Club gymnasium in Woodbridge. Other members said McGreevey often spent time with an entourage of "handsome young men" at the gym.
"I always saw him with the same blond guy," said one man who declined to give his name. "You could tell it was more than just two guys hanging out."
He said McGreevey "dated" several men while still married to his first wife, including one who came to the gym with him. When rumors got intense, said Jim Schiadaresis, "the mayor would come late, and his friend would come early." ... link
LOL! Not a pretty mental image. Since his press conference, I look at him and think "How did I never spot it...he's sooooo obviously gay".
he send him to france as ambasador
Hi HLL,
I am doing my weekend FReeping, and happened across this post.
I was aware last week that you were to meet with Laura Bush and wondered how it went, so if you wouldn't mind, could you please send me the links so I can read about it?
thanks,
EvaClement
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