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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 80
of 154
And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing
that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens when I proposed new
institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in public
councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent,
subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language,
and yet I generally carried my points.
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue
as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as
much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and
show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I
could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of
my humility.
[Thus far written at Passy, 1741.]
["I am now about to write at home, August, 1788, but can not have the help
expected from my papers, many of them being lost in the war. I have, however,
found the following."](8)
HAVING mentioned a great and extensive project which I had conceiv'd, it seems
proper that some account should be here given of that project and its object.
Its first rise in my mind appears in the following little paper, accidentally
preserv'd, viz.:
Observations on my reading history, in Library, May 19th, 1731.
"That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, etc., are carried
on and affected by parties.
"That the view of these parties is their present general interest, or what they
take to be such.
"That the different views of these different parties occasion all confusion.
"That while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular
private interest in view.
"That as soon as a party has gain'd its general point, each member becomes
intent upon his particular interest; which, thwarting others, breaks that party
into divisions, and occasions more confusion.
"That few in public affairs act from a meer view of the good of their country,
whatever they may pretend; and, tho' their actings bring real good to their
country, yet men primarily considered that their own and their country's
interest was united, and did not act from a principle of benevolence.
"That fewer still, in public affairs, act with a view to the good of mankind.
"There seems to me at present to be great occasion for raising a United Party
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