88). Franklin further claims that of all the virtues, "my scheme of order gave me the most trouble; and I found that, tho' it might be practicable where a man's business was such as to leave him the disposition of his time, that of a journeyman printer, for instance, it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master, who must mix with the world, and often receive people of business at their own hours," (p. 88). Franklin is therefore agreeing with Emerson that forcing human beings into an orderly and consistent life is foolish and squanders the human spirit on petty matters.
Some of the proverbs and maxims that comprise Poor Richard's Almanack seem foolish or at least silly; and overall there is a thematic consistency that makes Franklin's Puritanical worldview seem remarkably consistent. In the Autobiography, Franklin admits that the Almanack is about "inculcated industry and frugality," (95). However, Franklin still does not fall pray to what Emerson would call a foolish consistency in Poor Richard's Almanack. The proverbs in Poor Richard's Almanack demonstrate Franklin's insatiable hunger for improving human experience via self-discipline and moral virtue. In fact, Franklin's main reason for offering the proverbs is to encourage honesty and prevent foolish consistency.
Benjamin Franklin's continual and insatiable commitment to personal growth and moral betterment signals a great mind. Rather than impose a foolish consistency upon his life, Franklin acknowledges his faults and admits to inconsistencies like pride....
Self-Reliance Explain at least 3 different sources of suffering in Leo Tolstoy's the Death of Ivan Ilych The Death of Ivan Ilych by Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy is a novel penned in 1886 by a great Russian author and perhaps an even greater moralist in regards to the essence of suffering. There are three core aspects of suffering delineated over the course of the novel, namely the suffering of the physical body
Self-Reliance....Thoughts on the Frontier in American History. Reaction paper: Self-reliance The concept of self-reliance is extremely important in the discourse of politics today, as people argue that self-reliance from the federal government is a very important value. For Ralph Waldo Emerson, however, the world had a different meaning and resonance. First and foremost, self-reliance for Emerson meant the citizen was true to his or her ideals, versus conforming to the ideas
Self-Reliance and the Road Not Taken American Transcendentalism: Emerson and Frost There are several qualities that are inherent in American literature that help to set it apart from English literature. Among the earliest themes explored in American literature was the concept of self-reliance and individuality. These concepts are prevalent of writers and advocates of Transcendentalism, a subset of American Romanticism. Ralph Waldo Emerson explored the concept of individuality in his essay, "Self-Reliance,"
God is like art in that it cannot be learned, it must be experienced. To experience God, one must be brave because "God will not have his work made manifest by cowards" (Emerson). This bravery includes disregarding the risk of ridicule from others. The rewards of this connection are great, as they open us to many things. Emerson writes, "when God speaketh he should communicate, not one thing, but
nature in American literature, from earliest writings to the Civil War period. It is my purpose to outline the connection between spirituality, freedom and nature and explain how American writers have chosen to reflect and interpret these themes in relation to their historical realities. At the beginning of the colonization process there were two congruent depictions of nature. Initially, the tribes comprising The Iroquois League lived in close contact with
Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God"- write about your response to Edward's sermon as a member of his congregation. (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/sermons.sinners.html) Edward's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is fascinating from a historical perspective but absolutely frightening from the perspective of someone who might have been listening to the sermon when it was delivered in 1741. The "fire and brimstone" approach to religious teachings is unpalatable. Religion
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now