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continually, and grew very artful and expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions,1 the consequences of which they did not foresee, entangled them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved.

I continued this method some few years, but gradually left it, retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest diffidence; never using, when I advanced any thing that may possibly be disputed, the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather say, "I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so;" "it appears to me," or, "I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; " or, "I imagine it to be so;" or, "it is so, if I am not mistaken." This habit, I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures 5 that I have been from time to time engaged in promoting; and, as the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, to please, or to persuade, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those purposes for which speech was given to us, to wit, giving or

1 concessions, admissions.

2 advanced, put forward, stated. 3 disputed. Define.

4 inculcate: from Latin calx, the heel; inculcare, to tread on; and

hence, to impress on the mind by
frequent admonitions.

5 measure, course of action.
6 promoting, forwarding.
7 positive. Define.

receiving information or pleasure. For, if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke contradiction1 and prevent a candid attention. If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fixed in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in possession of your error. And by such a manner you can seldom hope to recommend yourself in pleasing your hearers, or to persuade those whose concurrence you desire. Pope says judiciously,

"Men should be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown proposed as things forgot; "

further recommending to us

"To speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence."

And he might have coupled with this line that which he has coupled with another, I think less properly,

“For want of modesty is want of sense.”

If you ask, Why less properly? I must repeat the lines:

"Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of modesty is want of sense."

Now, is not "want of sense" (where a man is so unfortunate as to want it) some apology for his "

1 contradiction. See Glossary. 2 if you wish... error. Period or loose sentence?

I want of

3 Pope. See biographical sketch. The lines quoted are from the "Essay on Criticism."

modesty"? And would not the lines stand more justly

thus?

"Immodest words admit but this defense,

That want of modesty is want of sense."

This, however, I submit to better judgments.

My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to print a newspaper. It was the second that appeared in America, and was called the New England Courant.1 The only one before it was the Boston News-Letter. I remember his being dissuaded by some of his friends from the undertaking, as not likely to succeed; one newspaper being, in their judgment, enough for America. At this time2 there are not less than five-andtwenty. He went on, however, with the undertaking; and after having worked in composing the types and printing off the sheets, I was employed to carry the papers through the streets to the customers.

He had some ingenious men among his friends, who amused themselves by writing little pieces for this paper, which gained it credit and made it more in demand; and these gentlemen often visited us. Hearing their conversations, and their accounts of the approbation their papers were received with, I was excited to try my hand among them; but being still a boy, and suspecting that my brother would object to printing any thing of mine in his paper if he knew it to be mine,

1 New England Courant. This 3 composing the types: i.e., setwas really the fourth newspaper ting up the type in form suitable that appeared in America. The for printing. One who sets type is first, "The Boston News-Letter," now called a compositor. was begun in 1704.

2 this time: the year 1771.

4 credit, reputation, notice. See Glossary.

2

I contrived to disguise my hand, and, writing an anonymous paper, I put it in at night under the door of the printing-house. It was found in the morning, and communicated to his writing friends when they called in as usual. They read it, commented on it in my hearing, and I had the exquisite pleasure of finding it met with their approbation, and that, in their different guesses at the author, none were named but men of some character1 among us for learning and ingenuity. I suppose now that I was rather lucky in my judges, and that perhaps they were not really so very good ones as I then esteemed them.

3

2. THE CHAPTER OF ABRAHAM AND THE STRANGER.

[This beautifully impressive lesson in favor of toleration was composed by Franklin, on the model of a similar narrative by the English divine Jeremy Taylor, who states that he drew it from the "Jew's Books" (the Talmud). It is, however, of Persian origin. It will be noted that the style and phraseology are scriptural; and Franklin used often to amuse himself by asking people in which part of the Bible it was found. Franklin says, "I used to take a good deal of amusement in reading it by heart out of my Bible, and obtaining the remarks of the Scripturians upon it, which were sometimes very diverting."]

1. AND it came to pass after these things, that Abraham sat in the door of his tent about the going down of the sun.

1

my hand.

What is the figure | without the real name of the auof speech? (See Def. 8.) thor.

2 anonymous: from Greek an, without, and onuma, a name; hence,

3 different. See Glossary.

4 character, reputation.

2. And behold, a man, bowed with age, came from the way of the wilderness, leaning on a staff.

3. And Abraham arose and met him, and said unto him, “Turn in, I pray thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night, and thou shalt arise early on the morrow, and go on thy way."

4. But the man said, "Nay, for I will abide under this tree."

5. And Abraham pressed him greatly; so he turned, and they went into the tent, and Abraham baked unleavened1 bread, and they did eat.

6. And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto him, "Wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, Creator of heaven and earth?"

7. And the man answered and said, "I do not worship the God thou speakest of, neither do I call upon his name; for I have made to myself a god, which abideth alway 2 in mine house, and provideth me with all things."

8. And Abraham's zeal3 was kindled against the man, and he arose and fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness.

9. And at midnight God called unto Abraham, saying, "Abraham, where is the stranger?"

10. And Abraham answered and said, "Lord, he would not worship thee, neither would he call upon thy name; therefore have I driven him out from before my face, into the wilderness."

11. And God said, "Have I borne with him these

1 unleavened, not fermented, made without yeast.

2 alway, old form of always.

3 zeal, religious ardor.

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