the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第18章
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which will very much tend to invite to it settlers of virtuous and manly
minds。 And considering the eagerness with which such information is
sought by them； and the extent of your reputation； I do not know of a more
efficacious advertisement than your biography would give。 All that has
happened to you is also connected with the detail of the manners and
situation of a rising people； and in this respect I do not think that the
writings of Caesar and Tacitus can be more interesting to a true judge of
human nature and society。 But these； sir； are small reasons； in my opinion；
compared with the chance which your life will give for the forming of
future great men； and in conjunction with your Art of Virtue （which you
design to publish） of improving the features of private character； and
consequently of aiding all happiness； both public and domestic。 The two
works I allude to； sir； will in particular give a noble rule and example of
self…education。 School and other education constantly proceed upon false
principles； and show a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark； but your
apparatus is simple； and the mark a true one； and while parents and young
persons are left destitute of other just means of estimating and becoming
prepared for a reasonable course in life； your discovery that the thing is in
many a man's private power； will be invaluable！ Influence upon the private
character； late in life； is not only an influence late in life； but a weak
influence。 It is in youth that we plant our chief habits and prejudices； it is
in youth that we take our party as to profession； pursuits and matrimony。
In youth； therefore； the turn is given； in youth the education even of the
next generation is given； in youth the private and public character is
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determined； and the term of life extending but from youth to age； life
ought to begin well from youth； and more especially before we take our
party as to our principal objects。 But your biography will not merely teach
self…education； but the education of a wise man； and the wisest man will
receive lights and improve his progress； by seeing detailed the conduct of
another wise man。 And why are weaker men to be deprived of such helps；
when we see our race has been blundering on in the dark； almost without a
guide in this particular； from the farthest trace of time？ Show then； sir；
how much is to be done； both to sons and fathers； and invite all wise men
to become like yourself； and other men to become wise。 When we see how
cruel statesmen and warriors can be to the human race； and how absurd
distinguished men can be to their acquaintance； it will be instructive to
observe the instances multiply of pacific； acquiescing manners； and to find
how compatible it is to be great and domestic； enviable and yet good…
humored。
〃The little private incidents which you will also have to relate； will
have considerable use； as we want； above all things； rules of prudence in
ordinary affairs； and it will be curious to see how you have acted in these。
It will be so far a sort of key to life； and explain many things that all men
ought to have once explained to them； to give； them a chance of becoming
wise by foresight。 The nearest thing to having experience of one's own； is
to have other people's affairs brought before us in a shape that is
interesting； this is sure to happen from your pen； our affairs and
management will have an air of simplicity or importance that will not fail
to strike； and I am convinced you have conducted them with as much
originality as if you had been conducting discussions in politics or
philosophy； and what more worthy of experiments and system （its
importance and its errors considered） than human life？
〃Some men have been virtuous blindly； others have speculated
fantastically； and others have been shrewd to bad purposes； but you； sir； I
am sure； will give under your hand； nothing but what is at the same
moment； wise； practical and good； your account of yourself （for I suppose
the parallel I am drawing for Dr。 Franklin； will hold not only in point of
character； but of private history） will show that you are ashamed of no
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origin； a thing the more important； as you prove how little necessary all
origin is to happiness； virtue； or greatness。 As no end likewise happens
without a means； so we shall find； sir； that even you yourself framed a plan
by which you became considerable； but at the same time we may see that
though the event is flattering；the means are as simple as wisdom could
make them；that is； depending upon nature； virtue； thought and
habit。Another thing demonstrated will be the propriety of everyman's
waiting for his time for appearing upon the stage of the world。 Our
sensations being very much fixed to the moment； we are apt to forget that
more moments are to follow the first； and consequently that man should
arrange his conduct so as to suit the whole of a life。 Your attribution
appears to have been applied to your life； and the passing moments of it
have been enlivened with content and enjoyment instead of being
tormented with foolish impatience or regrets。 Such a conduct is easy for
those who make virtue and themselves in countenance by examples of
other truly great men； of whom patience is so often the characteristic。 Your
Quaker correspondent； sir （for here again I will suppose the subject of my
letter resembling Dr。 Franklin）； praised your frugality； diligence and
temperance； which he considered as a pattern for all youth； but it is
singular that he should have forgotten your modesty and your
disinterestedness； without which you never could have waited for your
advancement； or found your situation in the mean time comfortable； which
is a strong lesson to show the poverty of glory and the importance of
regulating our minds。 If this correspondent had known the nature of your
reputation as well as I do； he would have said； Your former writings and
measures would secure attention to your Biography； and Art of Virtue； and
your Biography and Art of Virtue； in return； would secure attention to
them。 This is an advantage attendant upon a various character； and which
brings all that belongs to it into greater play； and it is the more useful； as
perhaps more persons are at a loss for the means of improving their minds
and characters； than they are for the time or the inclination to do it。 But
there is one concluding reflection； sir； that will shew the use of your life as
a mere piece of biography。 This style of writing seems a little gone out of
vogue； and yet it is a very useful one； and your specimen of it may be
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particularly serviceable； as it will make a subject of comparison with the
lives of various public cutthroats and intriguers； and with absurd monastic
self…tormentors or vain literary triflers。 If it encourages more writings of
the same kind with your own； and induces more men to spend lives fit to
be written； it will be worth all Plutarch's Lives put together。 But being
tired of figuring to myself a character of which every feature suits only
one man in the world； without giving him the praise of it； I shall end my
letter； my dear Dr。 Franklin； with a personal application to your proper self。
I am earnestly desirous； then； my dear sir； that you should let the world
into the traits of your genuine character； as civil broils nay otherwise tend
to disguise or traduce it。 Considering your great age； the caution of your
character； and your peculiar style of thinking； it is not likely that any one
besides yourself can be sufficiently master of the facts of your life； or the
intentions of your mind。 Besides all this； the immense revolution of the
present period； will necessarily turn our attention towards the author of it；
and when virtuous principles have been pretended in it； it will be highly
important to shew that such have really influenced； and； as your own
character will be the principal one to receive a scrutiny； it is proper （even
for its effects upon your vast and rising country； as well as upon England
and upon Europe） that it should stand respectable and eternal。 For the
furtherance of human happiness； I have always maintained that it is
necessary to prove that man is not even at present a vicious and detestable
animal； and still more to prove that good management may greatly amend
him； and it is for much the same reason； that I am anxious to see the
opinion established； that there are fair characters existing among the
individuals of the race； for the moment that all men； without exception；
shall be conceived abandoned； good people will cease efforts deemed to
be hopeless； and perhaps think of taking their share in the scramble of life；
or at least of making it comfortable principally for themselves。 Take then；
my dear sir； this work most speedily into hand： shew yourself good as you
are good； temperate as you are temperate； and above all things； prove
yourself as one； who from your infancy have loved justice； liberty and
concord； in a way that has made it natural and consistent for you to have
acted； as we have seen you act in the last seventeen years of your life。 Let
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