How did Benjamin Franklin Influence society?

     Benjamin Franklin first published his Almanac under the alias Richard Saunders, which many early writers use to do to keep their name clear, especially if they were the first to publish such writing that could stir controversy. He influenced many people who read his Almanac to the point where he began to hear his work being quoted throughout his days. He recollected on those events in his writing "The Way to Wealth", which I would consider a very influential piece of writing. "The Way to Wealth" can be used today to even influence our society because we deal with the same things people in Franklin's time had to deal with, for example, TAXES.

In Benjamin Franklin's "The Way to Wealth" he opened up his way of thinking and pursuing goals in life based off the foundation of TIME. TIME is everything. Every second you waste not pushing toward what you want to get out of life, the longer and harder you may have to work. 

"But dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting, that The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that There will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor Richard says." (from "The Way to Wealth")

      He let it be known through his writing that the people of the land should not let the governing body, taxes, disease, sleep, anything of that nature, stop them from getting what they want to get out of life. Time is of the essence and time should never be wasted.

"Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains"

     His influence was great on his society and he brought to the light that instead of complaining about their circumstances, its all about the effort and that time you put into your life and into your craft. WORK HARD and NEVER WASTE TIME. He laid a blueprint and a way of visioning your success and reaching it, but just like many people of the past and the present, following through with your goals despite the pressures of life is hard to do. Those that understand how to use time to their advantage are the ones that succeed. THINK ABOUT IT.

How does today's society correlate with Thoreau and Emerson's beliefs?

     Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were INDIVIDUALS. Sometimes I feel that people in today's society do not understand that we were all created equal but are individuals at the same time. Pursuing things in a world that has a lot of good, but also a lot of bad that is set to hinder our progression as human beings. In our society today people are afraid to be different so they tend to run with whatever trend is in at the current time. Thoreau and Emerson would have wanted more people to be innovative and in my generation I feel like we are losing touch with our individuality. I understand that the United States is considered a melting pot, but its the individual ingredients in the pot that makes it what it is.

     Thoreau stated - "All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hours toil. The fight to the finish spirit is the one... characteristic we must posses if we are to face the future as finishers." (more Thoreau quotes)


     We have a lot of teaching and learning to do for our generation and the youth. We have to help everyone to reach their ambitious dreams and aspirations. No matter how far'fetched it may seem, every time we push through adversity , visualize our goal, and withstand the bad times, better things come out of it. We just need progression, its in our spirit to fight until the end. So there is a fighting chance, we just have to take it.