
Poor Richard's Almanack
'Poor Richard's Almanack' Summary
The Almanack contained the calendar, weather, poems, sayings and astronomical and astrological information that a typical almanac of the period would contain. Franklin also included the occasional mathematical exercise, and the Almanack from 1750 features an early example of demographics. It is chiefly remembered, however, for being a repository of Franklin's aphorisms and proverbs, many of which live on in American English. These maxims typically counsel thrift and courtesy, with a dash of cynicism.
In the spaces that occurred between noted calendar days, Franklin included proverbial sentences about industry and frugality. Several of these sayings were borrowed from an earlier writer, Lord Halifax, many of whose aphorisms sprang from, "... a basic skepticism directed against the motives of men, manners, and the age." In 1757, Franklin made a selection of these and prefixed them to the almanac as the address of an old man to the people attending an auction. This was later published as The Way to Wealth, and was popular in both America and England.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1732Authors

Benjamin Franklin
United States
Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. As the first Unit...
Books by Benjamin FranklinDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva España by Bernal Díaz del Castillo
Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Mexico, wrote 'Historia verdadera de la conquista de la Nueva Esp...

Plain Speaker: Opinions on Books, Men, and Things by William Hazlitt
This posthumously assembled collection of essays by William Hazlitt, organized by his grandson, presents a diverse range of Hazlitt's insights on vari...

World’s Story Volume XI: Canada, South America, Central America, Mexico and the West Indies by Eva March Tappan
This volume is a comprehensive exploration of the history, culture, and art of Canada, South America, Central America, Mexico, and the West Indies. I...

Jenseit des Tweed by Theodor Fontane
In "Jenseit des Tweed" (Beyond the Tweed), Theodor Fontane documents his journey through Scotland with his friend Bernhard von Lepel. The book blends...

Marius the Epicurean, Volume 1 by Walter Pater
Marius the Epicurean is a philosophical novel written by Walter Pater, published in 1885. In it Pater displays, with fullness and elaboration, his ide...

Sämtliche Schriften 1911-1921, Teil 3 by Carl von Ossietzky
This book is a collection of articles by Carl von Ossietzky, a German journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. The articles were originally publishe...

Golden Bough. A Study in Magic and Religion. Part 3. The Dying God by James Frazer
The third part of James Frazer's monumental "The Golden Bough" explores the practice of human sacrifice and the mortality of gods in various cultures....

Beacon Lights of History, Vol 1: The Old Pagan Civilizations by John Lord
John Lord's *Beacon Lights of History* (Volume 1) delves into the world of ancient civilizations, focusing primarily on their religious beliefs and ph...

Kojiki Records of Ancient Matters by no Are Hieda
The *Kojiki* (古事記), meaning 'Records of Ancient Matters,' is a foundational text in Japanese history and culture. Compiled in the 8th century AD, i...

Golden Bough: The Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings, Volume 1 by James Frazer
The Golden Bough: The Magic Art and the Evolution of Kings is a foundational work in the field of anthropology, examining the development of religious...
Reviews for Poor Richard's Almanack
No reviews posted or approved, yet...