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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 77
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from the wheel to see how the work went on, and at length would take his ax as
it was, without farther grinding. "No," said the smith, "turn on, turn on; we
shall have it bright by-and-by; as yet, it is only speckled." "Yes," said the
man, "but I think I like a speckled ax best." And I believe this may have been
the case with many, who, having, for want of some such means as I employ'd,
found the difficulty of obtaining good and breaking bad habits in other points
of vice and virtue, have given up the struggle, and concluded that "a speckled
ax was best"; for something, that pretended to be reason, was every now and then
suggesting to me that such extream nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind
of foppery in morals, which, if it were known, would make me ridiculous; that a
perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and
hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep
his friends in countenance.
In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown
old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it. But, on the whole,
tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but
fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man
than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at
perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, tho' they never reach the
wish'd-for excellence of those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and
is tolerable while it continues fair and legible.
It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little artifice,
with the blessing of God, their ancestor ow'd the constant felicity of his life,
down to his 79th year, in which this is written. What reverses may attend the
remainder is in the hand of Providence; but, if they arrive, the reflection on
past happiness enjoy'd ought to help his bearing them with more resignation. To
Temperance he ascribes his long-continued health, and what is still left to him
of a good constitution; to Industry and Frugality, the early easiness of his
circumstances and acquisition of his fortune, with all that knowledge that
enabled him to be a useful citizen, and obtained for him some degree of
reputation among the learned; to Sincerity and Justice, the confidence of his
country, and the honorable employs it conferred upon him; and to the joint
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