Kana

【American Literature】

《week 6》

Benjamin Franklin: Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and in many ways was “the First American”. He was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

P 235

Franklin’s remaining years, however, were spent not in a laboratory, but at diplomatic tables in London, Paris, and Philadelphia, where his gift for irony served him well. He signed the Treaty of Paris.

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

That felicity, when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition, to correct some faults of the first. So I might, besides correcting the faults, change some sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing.

Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, to be talking of themselves and their own past actions; and I shall indulge it without being tiresome to others, who, through respect to age, might conceive themselves obliged to give me a hearing, since this may be read or not as any one pleases. And, lastly (I may as well confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own vanity. Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, "Without vanity, I may say," etc., but some vain thing immediately followed. Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity, among the other comforts of life.

And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which led me to the means I used and gave them success. My belief of this induces me to hope, though I must not presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may experience, as others have done, the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to us even our afflictions.

The 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

1.  TEMPERANCE

Eat not to Dullness. Drink not to Elevation.

1. SILENCE

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoiding trifling Conversation.

1. ORDER

Let all your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.

1. RESOLUTION

Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

1. FRUGALITY

Make no Expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e., Waste nothing.

1. INDUSTRY

Lose no Time. Be always employ’d in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.

1. SINCERITY

Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak; speak accordingly.

1. JUSTICE

Wrong none, by doing Injuries or omitting the Benefits that are your Duty.

1. MODERATION

Avoid Extremes. Forbear resenting Injuries so much as you think they deserve.

1. CLEANLINESS

Tolerate on Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.

1. TRANQUILITY

Be not disturbed at Trifles, or Accidents common or unavoidable.

1. CHASTITY

Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another’s Peace or Reputation.

1. HUMILITY

Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

《Thomas Paine》

Thomas Paine: Thomas Paine was an English and American political activist, philosopher, political theorist and revolutionary. As the author of the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, he inspired the rebels in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights. He has been called “a corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination”.

《Thomas Jefferson》

Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and the third President of the United States. He was a spokesman for democracy, and embraced the principles of republicanism and the rights of the individual with worldwide influence. At the beginning of the American Revolution, he served in the Continental Congress, representing Virginia, and then served as a wartime Governor of Virginia. In May 1785, he became the United States Secretary of State serving under President George Washington. In opposition to Alexander Hamilton’s Federalism, Jefferson and his close friend, James Madison, organized the Democratic-Republican Party, and later resigned from Washington’s cabinet. Elected Vice President in 1796, Jefferson opposed Adams, and with Madison secretly wrote the Kentucky and Virginian Resolutions, which attempted to nullify the Alien and Sedition Acts.

3 things

l   Drafting the Declaration of Independence

l   Writing and supporting the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

l   Founding the University of Virginia