Brave Men and Women | Page 6

Dick says, 'It is
easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.' And
it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in
order to equal the ox.

"'Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near
shore.'
It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says, 'Pride
that dines on vanity, sups on contempt; Pride breakfasted with Plenty,
dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy.' And after all, of what use
is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is
suffered? It can not promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no increase
of merit in the person; it creates envy, it hastens misfortune.
"But what madness it must be to run in debt for these superfluities! We
are offered by the terms of this sale six months' credit; and that, perhaps,
has induced some of us to attend it, because we can not spare the ready
money, and hope, now to be fine without it. But, ah! think what you do
when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. If
you can not pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor;
you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor, pitiful,
sneaking excuses, and, by degrees, come to lose your veracity, and sink
into base downright lying; for 'The second vice is lying, the first is
running in debt,' as Poor Richard says; and again, to the same purpose,
'Lying rides upon debt's back;' whereas a freeborn Englishman ought
not to be ashamed nor afraid to see or speak to any man living. But
poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. 'It is hard for an
empty bag to stand upright.' What would you think of that prince, or of
that government, who should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like
a gentleman or gentlewoman, on pain of imprisonment or servitude?
Would you not say that you were free, have a right to dress as you
please, and that such an edict would be a breach of your privileges, and
such a government tyrannical? and yet you are about to put yourself
under that tyranny when you run in debt for such dress! Your creditor
has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty, by
confining you in jail for life, or by selling you for a servant, if you
should not be able to pay him. When you have got your bargain, you
may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as Poor Richard says,
'Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a
superstitious sect, great observers of days and times.' The day comes
round before you are aware, and the demand is made before you are

prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in mind, the term, which
at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear extremely short: Time
will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders.
'Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter.' At
present, perhaps, you may think yourselves in thriving circumstances,
and that you can bear a little extravagance without injury; but
"'For age and want save while you may, No morning sun lasts a whole
day.'
"Gain may be temporary and uncertain; but ever, while you live,
expense is constant and certain; and 'It is easier to build two chimneys
than to keep one in fuel,' as Poor Richard says: so, 'Rather go to bed
supperless than rise in debt.'
"'Get what you can, and what you get hold, 'Tis the stone that will turn
all your lead into gold.'
And, when you have got the philosopher's stone, sure you will no
longer complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes.
"IV. This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after all, do
riot depend too much upon your own industry and frugality and
prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted without
the blessing of Heaven; and, therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and be
not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, but comfort
and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterwards
prosperous.
"And now to conclude, 'Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will
learn in no other,' as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for it is true,
'We may give advice, but we can not give conduct.' However,
remember this, 'They that will not be counseled, can not be helped;' and
farther, that, 'If you will not hear reason, she will surely rap your
knuckles,' as Poor Richard says."