Philadelphia, PA…Poor Richard’s Almanack was published by Benjamin Franklin, under the pen name of “Poor Richard” or “Richard Saunders”. Franklin began publishing Poor Richard’s Almanack on December 19, 1732. Annual versions were published from 1733 to 1758 & outsold everything but the bible. For two generations before the Revolutionary war he helped create our unique heritage and identity. In this crazy time where the news headlines read like satire we thought it might be refreshing to head down history lane a bit.

Light purse, heavy heart.
He’s a Fool that makes his Doctor his Heir.
He’s gone, and forgot nothing but to say Farewel–to his creditors.
Hunger never saw bad bread.
Great Talkers, little Doers.
Fools make feasts and wise men eat ’em.
The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.
Eat to live, and not live to eat.
After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.
The proof of gold is fire, the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman.
He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
Distrust & caution are the parents of security.
He is ill cloth’d, who is bare of Virtue.
Nothing more like a Fool, than a drunken Man.
Innocence is its own Defence.