Comparing Benjamin Franklin's Life And Work

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Benjamin Franklin, one of the most distinguished founding fathers, influenced a notable part of the way society is today and, set a great example of how life is to be lived, by doing good to others. That is exactly what Franklin did, through his work as a writer, printer, publisher, diplomat, philosopher and scientist he developed a remarkable respect for himself. At a young age, he had a thirst for knowledge and was eager to learn about all that he could through the writings of other authors. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, 1706, to two supportive parents that sent him to Grammar school and George Boswells School. He learned to read and write proficiently and, over the years became excellent at this task, writing dozens of pamphlets and later publishing and printing his own newspaper, The Pennsylvania Gazette. At age twelve he became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer and publisher of The New England Courant. At the age of seventeen he sailed to Philadelphia. Living at Philadelphia opened a lot of doors for Franklin and, although Governor Keith broke his promise of opening Bens own printing business, he lived there a while and grew into an independent and intelligent young man. Not only was Franklin chosen as public printer of Pennsylvania, but he also established the American Philosophical Society, The Union Fire Company, the very first library in the U.S, and Poor Richards Almanac, which became his most famous and well-known publication. …show more content…
Benjamin Franklin retired in his later years and spent more time focusing on living his life, making inventions and experiments including: the lighting rod, the kite experiment, bifocals and the open stove. Benjamin Franklin, a man with an ability to find solutions to complex problems, died in 1790 in Philadelphia, leaving behind the recollection of an inspirational life through his autobiography that can be a resource to help a man become "wealthy, and wise."
In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin retells the story of his life and shares a "recollection" of memories. Franklin was an ambitious, modest yet humble man who advices readers on the way to wealth, the importance of virtues, and the way life should be lived. Health, wealth and wisdom being the general components of what a good life would comprise. Benjamin Franklin 's Poor Richards Almanac was very much like a guidebook, filled with counseling suggestions and advice on how to achieve this life. Franklin worked on lessening his pride and was determined to create a defining life, to create an admirable persona of himself. He worked on his morality and humility by doing good to others and contributing to shaping America, and believed that because he worked on his virtues, he became a better man. He advised that others should make a plan in their own life, that they should do good works, and practice virtue because "without virtue there is no happiness." Virtue was an important factor that guided him through life and in his opinion, it helped him achieve a fulfilling life and it helped him become a better person than an organized religion would have. To Franklin it is important to practice ones virtues to improve the person, the mind and life itself. He thought that people who were religious seemed to concentrate more on doing following specific practices and principles rather than focusing on humility and virtues. Regardless of his opinion on religion and that fact that he disagreed with some parts of the doctrines, he still believed that there is a God, a higher power that is all-knowing, good, and powerful. Franklin did not seem to depend on a specific religion or any specific practices rather, he had his own beliefs and a different way of worshiping God and showing appreciation for the man he turned out to be. He proved his love towards God through his actions of good works, "for he has always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good." Franklin assisted others and brought out answers to problems he thought were important and necessary to pay much attention to. For instance, in his memoir he talked about the significance and consequences of youth receiving a good education. Franklin 's eagerness to learn when he was young made him knowledgeable and he wanted other youth to have the

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