Good ol’ Ben sure managed to carry on and on in his opening sequence about working hard and not going into debt, using a lot of Poor Richard’s sayings to drive home the point. Frankly, I haven’t met a whole lot of people who can pay cash for everything they own. Even if they have no credit card debt, most (we working folk anyway) surely have mortgages or rents and car payments to make. The doctor treating you may be paying $6,000 or more a month for the next forever to pay back his or her schooling costs. All is not as it seems for most people who appear to be living comfortably. We’re all one layoff away from everything that Franklin warned of, but the question is–what should one do?

Here, let Ben speak:

And now to conclude, Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true, we may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct, as Poor Richard says: However, remember this, They that won’’t be counselled, can’’t be helped, as Poor Richard says: And farther, That if you will not hear Reason, she’’ll surely rap your Knuckles.”

I guess I was a fool for betting on an optimistic future and then getting laid off against my will. Now, my knuckles rapped, I can only marvel at how bad Franklin’s grammar was. English, like the times, I guess, keep changing.