Benjamin Franklin: An American Life

by Walter Isaacson

lampooning

libeling,

entranced

A secret to being more revered than resented, he learned, was to display (at least when he could muster the discipline) a self-deprecating humor, unpretentious demeanor, and unaggressive style in conversation.9

Despite his sexual appetites, he was practical about what he wanted in a wife.

domesticity.

Franklin later said of Keith, “and having little to give, he gave expectations.”

wastrel

A pattern was emerging. Beginning with Collins and Ralph, Franklin easily made casual friends, intellectual companions, useful patrons, flirty admirers, and circles of genial acquaintances, but he was less good at nurturing lasting bonds that involved deep personal commitments or emotional relationships, even within his own family.

infallibly

disquisitions

Like Dr. Johnson, he was more comfortable exploring practical thoughts and real-life situations than metaphysical abstractions or deductive proofs.

revelation.

compunction.

Although divine revelation “had no weight with me,” he decided that religious practices were beneficial because they encouraged good behavior and a moral society.

covenant

“unintelligible”

abstinence,

dissuaded

Denham, on the other hand, was a man of integrity.

Franklin would find himself more attracted to people who were practical and reliable rather than dreamy and romantic.

“Plan for Future Conduct”

guides. He lamented that because he had never outlined a design for how he should conduct himself, his life so far had been somewhat confused.

There were four rules:

It is necessary for me to be extremely frugal for some time, till I have paid what I owe.

To endeavor to speak truth in every instance; to give nobody expectations that are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and action—the ...

To apply myself industriously to whatever business I take in hand, and not divert my mind from my business by any foolish project of suddenly growing rich; for industr...

I resolve to speak ill of no m...

indulged

knave

confounds

ostracized

abundance

solitude,

contemporary

contrived

counterfeited,

diligence.

industrious.

“I, Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia, printer.”5

There they discussed issues of the day, debated philosophical topics, devised schemes for self-improvement, and formed a network for the furtherance of their own careers.

epitomized

imprudent

pun-loving

Knowledge, he realized, “was obtained rather by the use of the ear than of the tongue.” So in the Junto, he began to work on his use of silence and gentle dialogue.

Socratic queries.

vexation

The other sins on his list were, in order: seeming uninterested, speaking too much about your own life, prying for personal secrets (“an unpardonable rudeness”), telling long and pointless stories (“old folks are most subject to this error, which is one chief reason their company is so often shunned”), contradicting or disputing someone directly, ridiculing or railing against things except in small witty doses (“it’s like salt, a little of which in some cases gives relish, but if thrown on by handfuls spoils all”), and spreading scandal (though he would later write lighthearted defenses of gossip).

circumspect

The topics discussed ranged from the social to the scientific and metaphysical. Most of them were earnest, some were quirky, and all were intriguing. Did importing indentured servants make America more prosperous? What made a piece of writing good? Why did condensation form on a cold mug? What accounted for happiness? What is wisdom? Is there a difference between knowledge and prudence? If a sovereign power deprives a citizen of his rights, is it justifiable for him to resist?