Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin

Key Takeaways

Make haste slowly
Little strokes, fell great oaks
The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise
Necessity never made a good bargain
Beware of the young doctor and the old barber
'Tis easy to see, hard to fooresee
Hear Reason, or she'll make you feel her
Observe all men; thyself most
Well done is better than well said
The things which hurt, instruct
Search for others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one
People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages
A little house well fill'd, a little field well till'd, and a little wife well will'd, are great riches
Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage
Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
Diligence is the mother of good luck
If ou would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing
'Tis easier to suppress the first Desire, than to satisfy all that follow it
Content is the Philosopher's Stone, that turns all it touches into Gold
Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults
A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough
Vice knows she's ugly, so puts on her Mask
Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, supped with Infamy
The doors of wisdom are never shut
How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them!
Who has deceiv'd thee so oft as thy self?
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it
The use of money is all the advantage there is in having money
Wish not so much to live long, as to live well
Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others
Wink at small faults - remember thou hast great ones
Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout
As pride increases, fortune declines
When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to thee, look on his mouth
You may be too cunning for one, but not for all
Hide not your talents, they for use were made: what's a sun-dial in the shade?
Learn of the skillful: he that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master
Well done, is twice done
Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies
He's a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom
Reading makes a full man - meditation a profound man - discourse a clear man
Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself a slave to it
He that cannot obey, cannot command
The poor have little - beggars none; the rich too much - enough not one
Eat to live; live not to eat
The proof of gold is fire; the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman
Keep conscience clear, then never fear
Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please
What is serving god? 'Tis doing Good to Man
Beware of little expenses: a small leak will sink a great ship
He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines
There is no little enemy
A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder, but rest and guilt live far asunder
Let thy discontents be thy secrets; - if the world knows them 'twill despise thee and increase them
It is not leisure that is not used
If what most men admire they would despise, 'Twould look as if mankind were growing wise
Friendship increases by visiting friends, but by visiting seldom
Neglect mending a small fault, and 'twill soon be a great one
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of
When the well's dry, we know the worth of water
Most people return small favors, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with ingratitude
Don't judge of men's wealth or piety, by their Sunday appearances
The wise and brave dares own that he was wrong
The busy man has few idle visitors, to the boiling pot the flies come not
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards
Praise little, dispraise less
Friends are the true scepters of princes
A full belly makes a dull brain
A good example is the best sermon
Wise men learn by other's harms; fools by their own
A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully and leave contentedly
Plough deep while sluggards sleep; and you shall have corn to sell and to keep
He that's content hath enough. He that complains hath too mcuh
Life with fools consist in drinking; with the wise man, living's thinking
Tell me my faults, and mend your own
The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the fool from his friends
Men take more pains to mask than mend
Dine with little, sup with less: do better still: sleep supperless
Many foxes grow grey, but few grow good
What signifies knowing the names, if you know not the nature of things
Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, and countenance
We keep the vices of others in sight; our own we carry on our backs
Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, bu babbling is ever a folly
A pair of good ears will drink dry a hundred tongeus
Many complain of their memory, few of their judgement
He that won't be cousnell'd, can't be help'd
Fools need advice most, but only wise men are the better for it
Sudden power is apt to be insolent, sudden liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually
Clean your finger, before you point at my spots
You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife
Teach your child to hold his tongue, he'll learn fast enough to speak
Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits

What I got out of it

Friends are so important, equanimity vital, small things matter, humility above all else, moderation in all, knowledge and mastery of self

Summary