The Way to Wealth
Or, "Poor Richard Improved"
Benjamin Franklin 1758
Advice on saving money and working steadily takes the form of a speech filled with short sayings. At an auction, Father Abraham repeats Poor Richard's advice to a crowd waiting for the sale.
12 pages 14 min reading time
- The most widely reprinted piece Franklin ever wrote, and one of the best-known early American writings.
- Argues that hard work, careful spending, and saving, not luck or wishing, are the true path to getting ahead.
- Makes the case that debt and showy buying for status rob people of their freedom, so living within your means keeps you independent.
- Spread sayings that are still used today, such as "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
- Helped shape the lasting American belief in self-reliance and the self-made person who rises through effort and thrift.
Written aboard a ship
Franklin wrote it in 1757 while sailing to England on official business for Pennsylvania.
Goodbye to Poor Richard
It first appeared as the opening piece of the last almanac Franklin wrote, after about 25 years.
Borrowed wisdom
Franklin built the speech from sayings in his old almanacs, and he admitted most were not his own.
A joke at the end
After cheering the speech, the crowd ignores it and starts spending wildly at the auction.