The pen is mightier than the sword.

There is no darkness but ignorance.

for the more you seem to have borrowed from books,
the poorer you proclaim your natural parts, which
only can properly be called yours.

IX. Follow not the tedious practice of such as
seek wisdom only in learning, not attainable but by
experience and natural parts. Much reading, like a
too great repletion, stopping up, through a concourse
of diverse, sometimes contrary opinions, the access of
a nearer, newer, and quicker invention of your own.
And for quotations, they resemble sugar in wine,
marring the natural taste of the liquor, if it be good;
if bad, that of itself; such patches rather making the
rent seem greater, by an interruption of the style,
than less, if not so neatly applied as to fall in without
drawing: nor is any thief in this kind sufferable, who
comes not off, like a Lacedemonian, without discovery.
X. The way to elegancy of style is to employ
your pen upon every errand; and the more trivial
and dry it is, the more brains must be allowed for
sauce: thus by checking all ordinary invention, your
reason will attain to such a habit, as not to dare to
present you but with what is excellent; and if void
of affection, it matters not how mean the subject is :
there being the same exactness observed, by good
architects, in the structure of a kitchen as a parlour.

XI. When business or compliment calls you to write letters, consider what is fit to be said were the party present, and set down that.

Education is the best legacy.

There is no such word as "Fail."

Poetry should be but a pastime.

Fools hate knowledge.

XII. Long experience has taught me that writers, for the most part, spend their money and time in the purchase of reproof and censure from envious contemporaries, or self-conceited posterity.

XIII. Be not frequent in poetry, how excellent however your vein is, but make it rather your recreation than business; because, though it swells you in your own opinion, it may render you less in that of wiser men, who are not ignorant how great a mass of vanity for the most part coucheth under this quality, proclaiming their heads like ships of use only for pleasure, and so richer in trimming than in lading.

XIV. It is incident to many, but as it were natural with poets, to think others take the like pleasure in hearing as they do in reading their own inventions. Not considering that the generality of ears are commonly stopped with prejudice of ignorance: neither can the understandings of men, any more than their tastes, be wooed to find a like savour in all things; one approving what others condemn, upon no weightier account than the single score of their own opinions.

FRANCIS OSBORN.

Knowledge is pleasant unto the soul.

A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

He who errs in the tens errs in the thousands.

In all labour there is profit.

ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.
Written in the Year 1748.

S you have desired it of me, I write the fol-
lowing hints, which have been of service to
me, and may, if observed, be so to you.

Remember that time is money. He that
can earn ten shillings a-day by his labour, and
goes abroad or sits idle one-half of that day,
though he spends but sixpence during his diversion
or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only ex-
pense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away,
five shillings besides.

Remember that credit is money. If a man lets his money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it, during that time. This amounts to a considerable sum where a man has good and large credit, and makes good use of it.

Remember that money is of a prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six; turned again it is seven and threepence; and so on till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding sow, destroys all her offspring to the thou

Trust, but not too much.

Honesty is the best policy.

Who looks not before finds himself behind.

Labour is the salt of life.

sandth generation. He that murders a crown, destroys
all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.

Remember that six pounds a-year is but a groat
a-day. For this little sum (which may be daily
wasted either in time or expense, unperceived) a man
of credit may, on his own security, have the constant
possession and use of a hundred pounds. So much
in stock, briskly turned by an industrious man, pro-
duces great advantage.

Remember this saying "The good paymaster is lord of another man's purse." He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he promises may at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever.

The most trifling actions that affect a man's credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if he sees you at a billiard-table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day; demands it before he can receive it in a lump.

Who does too much often does little.

Do the likeliest, and hope the best.

A penny saved's a penny clear;

Order is heaven's first law.

It shows, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe; it makes you appear a careful as well as an honest man, and that still increases your credit.

Beware of thinking all your own that you possess, and of living accordingly. It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect you will discover how wonderfully small trifling expenses mount up to large sums, and will discern what might have been, and may for the future be saved, without occasioning any great inconvenience.

In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he gets (necessary expenses excepted), will certainly become rich-if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest endeavours, doth not in his wise providence otherwise determine.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

Time is money.

A pin a day's a groat a year.