Benjamin Franklin, from Poor Richard's Almanack

1. Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge.
2. If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
3. Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
4. Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
5. Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and never well mended.
6. Fish and visitors smell in three days.
7. He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.
8. One today is worth two tomorrows.
9. A truly great man will neither trample on a worm nor sneak to an emperor.
10. A little neglect may breed mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost; for want of the rider the battle was lost.
11. If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; he that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.
12. He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes books.
13. He that is of the opinion that money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.
14. If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.
15. 'Tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
16. A small leak will sink a great ship.
17. A plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.
18. Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterward.
19. Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.
20. What you would seem to be, be really.

Writing Assignment

General directions: turn in final copy typed, double spaced, in MLA format with a heading on the first page and a header on all pages. No need for an outline page or cover page. Use formal language (no contractions, slang, 2nd person pronoun "you" in any form except in dialogue, clichés, unnecessary abbreviations). Graphic or hand-drawn illustrations are welcome but not required.

Part One: Choose five aphorisms on p. 76 (those listed above) or choose other aphorisms of Benjamin Franklin that you find on the Internet.  Type each aphorism exactly.  Then in a complete sentence or two, paraphrase the aphorism and explain what it means.  Use good diction, sentence structure, and mechanics.  Use third person in your explanation.  (In other words, do not use you)

Example:

Aphorism:  “A stitch in time saves nine.”

Explanation:  If a person takes care of a problem when it is small, the problem will not become so complicated as to require more time to correct it.

Part Two: Choose one other aphorism from p. 76 (those listed above) or one other aphorism by Benjamin Franklin that you find on the Internet. Write a paragraph of at least 8-10 sentences in which you relate a personal experience that illustrates the aphorism.