the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第6章
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I remained there alone； and； despatching presently my light repast； which
often was no more than a bisket or a slice of bread； a handful of raisins or
a tart from the pastry…cook's； and a glass of water； had the rest of the time
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till their return for study； in which I made the greater progress； from that
greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension which usually attend
temperance in eating and drinking。
And now it was that； being on some occasion made asham'd of my
ignorance in figures； which I had twice failed in learning when at school； I
took Cocker's book of Arithmetick； and went through the whole by myself
with great ease。 I also read Seller's and Shermy's books of Navigation； and
became acquainted with the little geometry they contain； but never
proceeded far in that science。 And I read about this time Locke On Human
Understanding； and the Art of Thinking； by Messrs。 du Port Royal。
While I was intent on improving my language； I met with an English
grammar （I think it was Greenwood's）； at the end of which there were two
little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic； the latter finishing with a
specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method； and soon after I procur'd
Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates； wherein there are many
instances of the same method。 I was charm'd with it； adopted it； dropt my
abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation； and put on the humble
inquirer and doubter。 And being then； from reading Shaftesbury and
Collins； become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine； I
found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against
whom I used it； therefore I took a delight in it； practis'd it continually； and
grew very artful and expert in drawing people； even of superior knowledge；
into concessions； the consequences of which they did not foresee；
entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate
themselves； and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause
always deserved。 I continu'd this method some few years； but gradually
left it； retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest
diffidence； never using； when I advanced any thing that may possibly be
disputed； the words certainly； undoubtedly； or any others that give the air
of positiveness to an opinion； but rather say； I conceive or apprehend a
thing to be so and so； it appears to me； or I should think it so or so； for
such and such reasons； or I imagine it to be so； or it is so； if I am not
mistaken。 This habit； I believe； has been of great advantage to me when I
have had occasion to inculcate my opinions； and persuade men into
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measures that I have been from time to time engag'd in promoting； and； as
the chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed； to please or
to persuade； I wish well…meaning； sensible men would not lessen their
power of doing good by a positive； assuming manner； that seldom fails to
disgust； tends to create opposition； and to defeat every one of those
purposes for which speech was given to us； to wit； giving or receiving
information or pleasure。 For； if you would inform； a positive and
dogmatical manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke
contradiction and prevent a candid attention。 If you wish information and
improvement from the knowledge of others； and yet at the same time
express yourself as firmly fix'd in your present opinions； modest； sensible
men； who do not love disputation； will probably leave you undisturbed in
the possession of your error。 And by such a manner； you can seldom hope
to recommend yourself in pleasing your hearers； or to persuade those
whose concurrence you desire。 Pope says； judiciously：
〃Men should be taught as if you taught them not； And things
unknown propos'd as things forgot；〃
farther recommending to us
〃To speak； tho' sure； with seeming diffidence。〃
And he might have coupled with this line that which he has coupled
with another； I think； less properly；
〃For want of modesty is want of sense。〃
If you ask； Why less properly？ I must repeat the lines；
〃Immodest words admit of no defense； For want of modesty is want
of sense。〃
Now； is not want of sense （where a man is so unfortunate as to want it）
some apology for his want of modesty？ and would not the lines stand
more justly thus？
〃Immodest words admit but this defense； That want of modesty is
want of sense。〃
This； however； I should submit to better judgments。
My brother had； in 1720 or 1721； begun to print a newspaper。 It was
the second that appeared in America； and was called the New England
Courant。 The only one before it was the Boston News…Letter。 I remember
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his being dissuaded by some of his friends from the undertaking； as not
likely to succeed； one newspaper being； in their judgment； enough for
America。 At this time （1771） there are not less than five…and…twenty。 He
went on； however； with the undertaking； and after having worked in
composing the types and printing off the sheets； I was employed to carry
the papers thro' the streets to the customers。
He had some ingenious men among his friends； who amus'd
themselves by writing little pieces for this paper； which gain'd it credit and
made it more in demand； and these gentlemen often visited us。 Hearing
their conversations； and their accounts of the approbation their papers
were received with； I was excited to try my hand among them； but； being
still a boy； and suspecting that my brother would object to printing
anything of mine in his paper if he knew it to be mine； I contrived to
disguise my hand； and； writing an anonymous paper； I put it in at night
under the door of the printing…house。 It was found in the morning； and
communicated to his writing friends when they call'd in as usual。 They
read it； commented on it in my hearing； and I had the exquisite pleasure of
finding it met with their approbation； and that； in their different guesses at
the author； none were named but men of some character among us for
learning and ingenuity。 I suppose now that I was rather lucky in my judges；
and that perhaps they were not really so very good ones as I then esteem'd
them。
Encourag'd； however； by this； I wrote and convey'd in the same way to
the press several more papers which were equally approv'd； and I kept my
secret till my small fund of sense for such performances was pretty well
exhausted and then I discovered it； when I began to be considered a little
more by my brother's acquaintance； and in a manner that did not q
