Philadelphia, PA…Our Favorite Founding Father is Ben Franklin. He didn’t just help found our country during the 1776 era.   For two generations before he helped sell concepts of Freedom, Self-Determination & Inalienable rights. From 1733 to 1758 Poor Richards Almanac helped create the unique American identity in a homey, common sense, aspirational way. A few Bits of Wisdom from 1736…

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the Philosophers-Stone.
He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.
Fish & Visitors stink in 3 days.
He that can have Patience, can have what he will.
God helps them that help themselves.
Keep flax from fire, and youth from gaming.
Diligence is the mother of Good-Luck.
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
He that lives upon Hope, dies fasting.
Do not do what you would not have known.
The good Paymaster is Lord of another man’s Purse.
Never praise your Cyder, Horse, or Bedfellow.
Tis easy to see, hard to foresee.
In a discreet man’s mouth, a publick thing is private.
Let thy maidservant be faithful, strong, and homely.
Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.
Admiration is the Daughter of Ignorance.
There’s more old Drunkards than old Doctors.
She that paints her face, thinks of her Tail.
He that takes a wife, takes care.
Why does the blind man’s wife paint herself?
None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
If wind blows on you thro’ a hole, Make your will and take care of your soul.
The rotten Apple spoils his Companion.
Don’t throw stones at your neighbours, if your own windows are glass.
The excellency of hogs is fatness, of men virtue.
Good wives and good plantations are made by good husbands.
Pox take you, is no curse to some people.
He that sells upon trust, loses many friends, and always wants money.
Gifts burst rocks.
Force shites upon Reason’s Back.
Lovers, Travellers, and Poets, will give money to be heard.
He that speaks much, is much mistaken.
Creditors have better memories than debtors.
Forwarn’d, forearm’d, unless in the case of Cuckolds, who are often forearm’d before warn’d.
Three things are men most liable to be cheated in, a Horse, a Wig, and a Wife.
He that lives well, is learned enough.
Poverty, Poetry and new Titles of Honour, make Men ridiculous.
He that scatters Thorns, let him not go barefoot.
There’s none deceived but he that trusts.
God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees.
If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
Mary’s mouth costs her nothing, for she never opens it but at others expense.
Receive before you write, but write before you pay.
I saw few die of Hunger, of Eating 100000.
He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.