Writer of the Week

This is Ryan's first full essay based on the Maxim progymnasmata as taught in the Diogenes material.

(I described the Classical Writing program here.)

Responsible Living

“Would you live with ease? Do what you ought, and not what you please.”

by Ryan (age 13)

It is proper to praise every writer, but especially Benjamin Franklin, the famous printer, publisher, diplomat, scientist, and statesman of 18th century America. He was a wise and very active man who published a successful paper and Poor Richard’s Almanac, wrote letters to the local newspaper as a boy, patented numerous inventions, proved that lighting is indeed electricity, and signed many of the key founding documents in American history. It has been said Benjamin Franklin was a “jack of all trades, master of many.” His wise sayings were widely known throughout all of the American colonies, and were normally associated with a common sense viewpoint which made him and his almanac very popular. None of his observations were so wise as those he made on doing your duty.

What does the maxim say? If one desires to be trouble-free in this world he should carry out his duties rather than simply doing whatever he wishes. One should make it a habit to live everyday with this attitude if he wishes to live with ease. We shall praise the author in what follows.

The consequence of this maxim is that he who completes the tasks required of him will have a more comfortable life. He will save money, and he can provide for the future with it; he will be sought after as an employee, as well as an employer. People are more likely to appreciate the man who can be counted on to complete his obligations, which will result in smoother lives for those around him as well.

On the contrary, if one were to only do what he wished rather than the necessary everyday tasks, he would not be sought after as an employee or employer, since others would not appreciate him because he would be considered very unreliable.

Such is also the way with farmers who plant their crops; those who are willing to keep their plants healthy throughout the season by watering and taking care of them will have a harvest of food for himself as well as his family.

This maxim is illustrated in Aesop’s fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, in which the ant labors and builds up a supply of food all year long while the grasshopper merely ridicules him for wasting his time working instead of enjoying life. When winter comes the diligent ant has enough food for the whole season, but the lazy grasshopper dies from starvation.

Solomon, the Old Testament king who chose wisdom over all his other desires, said, “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

It is easy to see the wisdom of the author, Benjamin Franklin, when he wrote such things about living problem-free by simply doing our duty.