Poor Richard's Almanac was a yearly almanac published by Benjamin Franklin, who adopted the pseudonym of "Poor Richard" for the purpose of this work in the title. It appeared continuously from 1732 to 1757. The almanac was a best seller for a pamphlet published in the American colonies; print runs typically ran to 10,000 per year.
It contained the typical calendar, weather, and astronomical and astrological information that an almanac of the period contained. 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 just a dash of cynicism.
Some sample maxims from Poor Richard's Almanac include:
- Let thy discontents be thy secrets; if the world knows them `t will despise thee and increase them.
- No nation was ever ruined by trade.
- Drive thy Business, or it will drive thee.
- He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
- Setting too good an example is a kind of slander seldom forgiven.
- Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other.
- Avarice and happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted.
- Where there's Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
- Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.
- Necessity never made a good bargain.
- Let thy Child's first Lesson be Obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.
- Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
- If you'd have it done, Go: if not, Send.
- Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.
- If your Riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to t'other World?
- A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
- There is no little enemy.
- God heals, and the doctor takes the fee.
- Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
- Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.
- If you'd know the value of money, go and borrow some.
