_Poor Richard Improved_

1756

COURTEOUS READER, I suppose my Almanack may be worth the Money thou hast paid for it, hadst thou no other Advantage from it, than to find the _Day of the Month_, the _remarkable Days_, the _Changes of the Moon_, the _Sun and Moon's Rising and Setting_, and to foreknow the _Tides_ and the _Weather_; these, with other Astronomical Curiosities, I have yearly and constantly prepared for thy Use and Entertainment, during now near two Revolutions of the Planet _Jupiter._ But I hope this is not all the Advantage thou hast reaped; for with a View to the Improvement of thy _Mind_ and thy _Estate_, I have constantly interspers'd in every little Vacancy, _Moral Hints_, _Wise Sayings_, and _Maxims of Thrift_, tending to impress the Benefits arising from _Honesty_, _Sobriety_, _Industry_ and _Frugality_; which if thou hast duly observed, it is highly probable thou art _wiser_ and _richer_ many fold more than the Pence my Labours have cost thee. Howbeit, I shall not therefore raise my Price because thou art better able to pay; but being thankful for past Favours, shall endeavour to make my little Book more worthy thy Regard, by adding to those _Recipes_ which were intended for the _Cure_ of the _Mind_, some valuable Ones regarding the _Health_ of the _Body._ They are recommended by the Skilful, and by successful Practice. I wish a Blessing may attend the Use of them, and to thee all Happiness, being _Thy obliged Friend,_ R. SAUNDERS. ______

A Change of _Fortune_ hurts a wise Man no more than a Change of the _Moon._

Does Mischief, Misconduct, & Warrings displease ye; Think there's a Providence, 'twill make ye easy.

_Mine_ is better than _Ours._

Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.

He that has a Trade, has an Office of Profit and Honour.

Be civil to _all_; serviceable to _many_; familiar with _few_; Friend to _one_; Enemy to _none._

_Vain-Glory_ flowereth, but beareth no Fruit. _______

As I spent some Weeks last Winter, in visiting my old Acquaintance in the _Jerseys_, great Complaints I heard for Want of Money, and that Leave to make more Paper Bills could not be obtained. _Friends and Countrymen_, my Advice on this Head shall cost you nothing, and if you will not be angry with me for giving it, I promise you not to be offended if you do not take it.

You spend yearly at least _Two Hundred Thousand Pounds_, 'tis said, in _European_, _East-Indian_, and _West-Indian_ Commodities: Supposing one Half of this Expence to be in _Things absolutely necessary_, the other Half may be call'd _Superfluities_, or at best, Conveniences, which however you might live without for one little Year, and not suffer exceedingly. Now to save this Half, observe these few Directions.

1. When you incline to have new Cloaths, look first well over the old Ones, and see if you cannot shift with them another Year, either by Scouring, Mending, or even Patching if necessary. Remember a Patch on your Coat, and Money in your Pocket, is better and more creditable than a Writ on your Back, and no Money to take it off.

2. When you incline to buy China Ware, Chinces, _India_ Silks, or any other of their flimsey slight Manufactures; I would not be so hard with you, as to insist on your absolutely _resolving against it_; all I advise, is, to _put it off_ (as you do your Repentance) _till another Year_; and this, in some Respects, may prevent an Occasion of Repentance.

3. If you are now a Drinker of Punch, Wine or Tea, twice a Day; for the ensuing Year drink them but _once_ a Day. If you now drink them but once a Day, do it but every other Day. If you do it now but once a Week, reduce the Practice to once a Fortnight. And if you do not exceed in Quantity as you lessen the Times, half your Expence in these Articles will be saved.

4thly and lastly, When you incline to drink Rum, fill the Glass _half_ with Water.

Thus at the Year's End, there will be _An Hundred Thousand Pounds_ more Money in your Country.

If Paper Money in ever so great a Quantity could be made, no Man could get any of it without giving something for it. But all he saves in this Way, will be _his own for nothing_; and his Country actually so much richer. Then the Merchants old and doubtful Debts may be honestly paid off, and Trading become surer thereafter, if not so extensive. ______

Laws _too gentle_ are seldom _obeyed_; _too severe_, seldom _executed._

_Trouble_ springs from _Idleness_; _Toil_ from _Ease._

_Love_, and be _loved._

A wise Man will desire no more, than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute chearfully, and leave contentedly.

The diligent Spinner has a large Shift.

A false Friend and a Shadow, attend only while the Sun shines.

_To-morrow_, every Fault is to be amended; but that _To-morrow_ never comes.

Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep; And you shall have Corn, to sell and to keep.

He that sows Thorns, should never go barefoot.

_Laziness_ travels so slowly, that _Poverty_ soon overtakes him.

_Sampson_ with his _strong Body_, had a _weak Head_, or he would not have laid it in a Harlot's Lap.

When a Friend deals with a Friend Let the Bargain be clear and well penn'd, That they may continue Friends to the End.

He that never eats too much, will never be lazy.

To be _proud_ of _Knowledge_, is to be _blind_ with _Light_; to be _proud_ of _Virtue_, is to _poison_ yourself with the _Antidote._

Get what you can, and what you get, hold; 'Tis the _Stone_ that will turn all your Lead into Gold.

An honest Man will receive neither _Money_ nor _Praise_, that is not his Due. _______

Well, my Friend, thou art now just entering the last Month of another Year. If thou art a Man of Business, and of prudent Care, belike thou wilt now settle thy Accounts, to satisfy thyself whether thou hast gain'd or lost in the Year past, and how much of either, the better to regulate thy future Industry or thy common Expences. This is commendable. -- But it is not all. -- Wilt thou not examine also thy _moral_ Accompts, and see what Improvements thou hast made in the Conduct of Life, what Vice subdued, what Virtue acquired; how much _better_, and how much _wiser_, as well as how much _richer_ thou art grown? What shall it _profit_ a Man, if he _gain_ the whole World, and _lose_ his own Soul? Without some Care in this Matter, tho' thou may'st come to count thy Thousands, thou wilt possibly still appear poor in the Eyes of the Discerning, even _here_, and be really so for ever _hereafter._

_Saying_ and _Doing_, have quarrel'd and parted.

Tell me my Faults, and mend your own.

Òà·²¹«ÒæͼÊé¹Ý(shuku.net)

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