American Lit in Self-Reliance, Ralph Essay

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Yet through his explorations of order, Franklin admits that it is "extremely difficult to acquire" as a virtue (p. 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.

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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. He goes so far as to admit that he "was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent," (Autobiography 91). Anyone willing to confront his or her demons in this way is not suspect to foolish consistency, which suggests a dull mind. Franklin continues to claim in his Autobiography, "In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride," (Franklin 92). Franklin's willingness to change and grow suggests that even while he strives for a higher order of life, he does not rest on his laurels. As Franklin himself states in Poor Richard's Almanack, "Fools make feasts and wise men eat 'em." Such seemingly cryptic maxims point to a worldview that has similar philosophical underpinnings to that of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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