Benjamin Franklin Questions and Answers
Benjamin Franklin
What does Benjamin Franklin's quote "Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it" mean?
Benjamin Franklin's quote "Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it" means true wealth comes from enjoying what you have, not just possessing it. A person with less money who finds joy...
Benjamin Franklin
What does Benjamin Franklin's quote, "If a man empties his purse into his head no man can take it away from him," mean?
Benjamin Franklin's quote means that investing in education is invaluable because knowledge cannot be taken away. Spending money on learning—whether through education, tutoring, or books—ensures...
Benjamin Franklin
What does Benjamin Franklin's quote about liberty and safety mean?
Benjamin Franklin's quote about liberty and safety means that personal liberty is paramount in a democratic society. He argues that sacrificing essential liberty for safety results in losing both....
Benjamin Franklin
What does Benjamin Franklin's phrase "Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a...
Benjamin Franklin's phrase means that kindness and politeness are more effective in winning people over than anger or harsh words. Using "honey" (kindness) makes people more willing to help you,...
Benjamin Franklin
Speech In The Convention Benjamin Franklin Summary
In his "Speech in the Convention," Benjamin Franklin expresses his reservations about the Constitution yet also his support for it. He encourages members of the Convention to not speak of their...
Benjamin Franklin
Which Shakespeare play and quote inspired Benjamin Franklin's statement, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are...
Benjamin Franklin's statement, "Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead," is inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In Act II, Scene iv, the Nurse, worried about the secrecy of Romeo...
Benjamin Franklin
What are the literal and figurative meanings of Benjamin Franklin's "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to...
Benjamin Franklin's essay "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One" serves as both a literal and figurative critique of British colonial policies. Literally, it lists ways the...
Benjamin Franklin
In "The Whistle," what examples of grammatical parallelism does Franklin use to describe overpayers?
In "The Whistle," Franklin uses grammatical parallelism to describe overpayers by repeating variations of the phrase "too much for the whistle." He illustrates this with examples like sacrificing...
Benjamin Franklin
What are the theme, tone, and style of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography", and its place in American literature?
The theme of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" is individualism, emphasizing personal responsibility, hard work, and self-improvement. The tone is reflective and wise, often witty and...
Benjamin Franklin
Why is Benjamin Franklin referred to as a renaissance man?
Benjamin Franklin is referred to as a "renaissance man" because he excelled in multiple fields, embodying the diverse interests characteristic of Renaissance thinkers. He was a scientist known for...
Benjamin Franklin
What are the three major points and related proverbs in Benjamin Franklin's The Way to Wealth?
In "The Way to Wealth," Benjamin Franklin emphasizes industry, prudence, and frugality. He argues that hard work is crucial, warning against laziness with the proverb "a life of leisure and a life of...
Benjamin Franklin
List three Benjamin Franklin aphorisms about friendship.
Benjamin Franklin's aphorisms about friendship include: "The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies than the fool from his friends," emphasizing learning from criticism. "When befriended,...
Benjamin Franklin
What was Benjamin Franklin's childhood like?
Benjamin Franklin's childhood, as detailed in his Autobiography, highlights his rise from a modest Boston family through hard work and self-education. He attended grammar school with hopes of...
Benjamin Franklin
How did Benjamin Franklin's inventions change the world?
Benjamin Franklin's inventions significantly impacted the world. His experiments with electricity led to the development of the lightning rod, which protected buildings from lightning damage. He also...
Benjamin Franklin
Why did Benjamin Franklin invent bifocals?
Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals largely because his eyesight was deteriorating, and he was tired of switching back and forth between different pairs of glasses.
Benjamin Franklin
How do Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson reflect Puritan thinking in their writing?
Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, though Enlightenment thinkers, reflect Puritan influences in their writings. Franklin, raised in the Puritan tradition, emphasized virtue and morality in his...
Benjamin Franklin
How does Benjamin Franklin's writing reveal the Enlightenment's shift from Providence to individual faith?
Franklin was a Deist who believed that God created the world and then left it alone, and that man had the responsibility to make of his life what he could. Franklin adopted this ideology from his...
Benjamin Franklin
How are Native Americans portrayed in Benjamin Franklin's works? Is it favorable or negative?
In his essay "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America," Benjamin Franklin presents Native Americans in a favorable light, challenging the notion that they are "savages." He argues that...
Benjamin Franklin
What is Benjamin Franklin’s attitude toward religion in his Autobiography?
In his Autobiography, Benjamin Franklin expresses a deist perspective, believing in a single God and advocating for doing good as the most acceptable service to God. While he respects Jesus' moral...
Benjamin Franklin
How does social mobility play a major role in Benjamin Franklin's life?
Social mobility is central to Benjamin Franklin's life, as depicted in his Autobiography, where he embodies the self-made man ideal. Transitioning from a small print shop in Boston to a prominent...
Benjamin Franklin
Based on "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America", how would you describe Benjamin Franklin's personality...
A character sketch of Benjamin Franklin that draws on "Remarks Concerning the Savages of North America" could highlight curiosity, open-mindedness, and humor. Franklin’s essay shows that he was...
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin's role and characteristics as a representative of the Enlightenment
Benjamin Franklin epitomized the Enlightenment through his emphasis on reason, scientific inquiry, and the pursuit of knowledge. His diverse achievements in science, politics, and literature, along...
Benjamin Franklin
What is the climax of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" and what events surround it?
The climax of Benjamin Franklin's "Autobiography" occurs after a series of transformative events: a quarrel with his brother, a sea voyage, rescuing a man overboard, and acts of charity. These...
Benjamin Franklin
How are proverbs from "The Way to Wealth" relevant to our lives?
Proverbs from "The Way to Wealth" remain relevant today as they emphasize time management, hard work, and financial prudence. Franklin's advice against wasting time and promoting efficiency resonates...
Benjamin Franklin
Compare and contrast the literary elements in the autobiographies of Frederick Douglass and Benjamin Franklin.
Frederick Douglass' narrative was inner directed and reveals his innermost thoughts. Franklin's narrative is outer directed and he writes with posterity in mind.
Benjamin Franklin
What was Benjamin Franklin's status when he arrived in Philadelphia?
When Benjamin Franklin arrived in Philadelphia in October 1723, he was a 17-year-old with little money, few clean clothes, and no connections. After a difficult journey from New York, he appeared...