Poor Richard’s Almanac was an almanac written and published by Benjamin Franklin. The famous American statesman created the almanac early in his career, when he was a printer and publisher in Philadelphia. He issued the almanac for every year from 1733 to 1758.
Franklin wrote the almanac under the name of Richard Saunders, an imaginary astronomer. Like other almanacs of its time, Poor Richard included such features as astrological signs, practical advice, jokes, poems, and weather predictions. At first, Richard had little wit or humor. But as his character developed, he became a clever spokesman for Franklin’s ideas on thrift, duty, hard work, and simplicity. Poor Richard’s Almanac grew into one of the most popular and influential works printed in colonial America. Franklin published the almanac under his own name. In each edition, Richard offered his readers a number of proverbs. Many of these sayings became famous, including:
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
“God helps them that help themselves.”
“Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
Such proverbs expressed Franklin’s philosophy that foresight, wise spending, and plain living are not only good qualities, but also lead to success. This philosophy greatly influenced American thought before and after the American Revolution (1775-1783).
Franklin enlarged the almanac for the 1748 edition and called it Poor Richard Improved. In the preface to the final edition, published in 1757, he collected many of Richard’s proverbs on how to succeed in business and public affairs. The preface, called “The Way to Wealth,” was reprinted separately and was widely read in England and France as well as in America. However, this collection of proverbs provides a misleading view of Franklin’s wisdom and character because it focuses chiefly on material gain and proper conduct. Many of Franklin’s other sayings reveal that he also had a witty and sometimes skeptical mind.
