32 Poor richard's almanack.

283. If you would have guests merry

with cheer, be so yourself, or so at

least appear.

284. If you would keep your secret from

an enemy, tell it not to a friend.

285. If you would not be forgotten as

soon as you are dead and rotten,

either write things worth reading,

or do things worth writing.

286. If you would reap praise you must

sow the seeds, gentle words and

useful deeds.

287.* Ignorance leads men into a party,

and shame keeps them from getting

out again.

288.* I have never seen the philosopher's

stone that turns lead into gold, but

I have known the pursuit of it turn

a man's gold into lead.

289.* Ill company is like a dog who dirts

those most, that he loves best.

290. Ill customs and bad advice are sel-

dom forgotten.

291.* "I'll warrant ye", goes before rash-

ness; "Who'd-a-tho't" comes sneak-

ing after.

292.* Industry pays debts, despair in-

creases them.

293. In success be moderate.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK. 88

294. Interest which blinds some people,

enlightens others.

295. In the affairs of this world men are

saved, not by faith, but by the want

of it.

296. I saw few die of hunger, of eat-

ing 100,000.

297. Is there anything men take more

pains about than to render them-

selves unhappy?

298. It is better to take many injuries,

than to give one.

299.* It, is ill jesting with the joiner's

tools, worse with the doctor's.

300.* It is ill-manners to silence a fool,

and cruelty to let him go on.

301. It is not leisure that is not used.

302.* It is wise not to seek a secret, and

honest not to reveal it.

303. It's common for men to give pre-

tended reasons instead of one real

one.

304. It's the easiest thing in the world

for a man to deceive himself.

305. Jack Little sow'd little, and little

he'll reap.

306.* Keep flax from fire, youth from

gaming.

34 Poor richard's almanack.

307.* Keep thou from the opportunity,

and God will keep thee from the

sin.

308. Keep thy shop, and thy shop will

keep thee.

309.* Keep your eyes wide open before

marriage, half shut afterwards.

310. Keep your mouth wet, feet dry.

311.* Kings and bears often w.orry their

keepers.

312.* Kings have long arms, but mis-

fortune longer ; let none think them-

selves out of her reach.

313. Late children, early orphans.

314.* Laws like to cobwebs, catch small

flies, great ones break through be-

fore your eyes.

315.* Laws too gentle are seldom

obeyed; too severe, seldom ex-

ecuted.

316. Laziness travels so slowly, that pov-

erty soon overtakes him.

317.* Learn of the skillful; he that

teaches himself, hath a fool for his

master.

318. Lend money to an enemy, and

thou'lt gain him, to a friend and

thou'lt lose him.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK. 85

319.* Let all men know thee, but no man

know thee thoroughly; men freely

ford that see the shallows.

320. Let every new year find you a better

man.

321. Let thy child's first lesson be obe-

dience, and the second may be what

thou wilt.

322.* Let thy discontents be thy secrets;

if the world knows them 'twill de-

spise thee and increase them.

323. Let thy maid-servant be faithful,

strong, and homely.

324. Let thy vices die before thee.

325. Liberality is not giving much, but

giving wisely.

326. Light gains, heavy purses.

327. Light heel'd mothers make leaden-

heel'd daughters.

328. Light purse, heavy heart.

329. Little rogues easily become great

ones.

330. Little strokes fell great oaks.

331. Look before, or you'll find yourself

behind.

332. Lost time is never found again.

333. Love, and be loved.