Name: ______Ben Franklin: Symbol of the Ideal or Perfect Colonist

Ben Franklin is a symbol of the ideal American. He was:

 Born in Boston in 1706  Self-educated  As a teenager, studied printing in his brother’s newspaper shop  Independent, he went off on his own to Philadelphia and set up his own print shop  Became a printer and a civic leader. Very good with money. Not a spendthrift but also enjoyed life.  Printed Poor Richard’s Almanack, a collection of advice to others. A best seller  Worked hard and used his brains. Respected by others for his wisdom. A man of ideals but also practical.  After retirement (at 42), invented the lightning rod, bifocal lenses; discovered electricity  Worked extensively in public affairs  Socially mobile- moved among all classes of people easily and worked his way into the upper class.  Helped the American Revolution happen and succeed  Diplomat- successfully advised France to become an American ally in the American Revolution  Died in 1790  Model of the ideal colonist

Examples of his proverbs from Poor Richard’s Almanack:

1) At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. 2) There are no ugly loves, nor handsome prisons. 3) Love your Neighbor; yet don’t pull down your Hedge. 4) No gains without pains. 5) Beware of little Expenses: a small Leak will sink a great ship. 6) Fish and Visitors stink after three days. 7) God helps them that help themselves. 8) What you would seem to be, be really. 9) For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse is lost; for want of a Horse the Rider is lost. 10)He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals. 11)Dost thou love Life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the Stuff Life is made of. 12)The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice. 13)You may be too cunning for One, but not for All. 14)Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee. 15)To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.

Task: Write a paraphrase of 5 proverbs in your language, making sure that a reader will have no doubt about what Franklin meant. As a second step, create a modern proverb that has the same meaning as the old colonial one. There are 14.

Proverb# Meaning in your words New version in your words