Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin。我的摘抄集中在 2022 年 1 月。留下来的内容很能说明这本自传的写法。富兰克林把一生写成一套可供后人模仿的方法，同时很坦白地承认，写作也满足了自己的虚荣心。

Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated. And, lastly (I may as well confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own vanity.[4

书里最完整的一条线，是他如何把品格变成可以记录的日常练习。道理见 道德确信不够，德行还要练成习惯，方法见 一周只练一种德行，结果见 没做到完美，练习仍然改好了人。这套做法比《Atomic Habits》早得多，但已经包含了缩小目标、重复行动和记录反馈。

另一条线在语言和关系里。确定语气会降低说服力 记录他怎样戒掉 certainly、undoubtedly 这类词；请求一次小帮助，可能让对方更愿意继续帮你 则是后来所谓 Benjamin Franklin effect 的原始故事。

他的成功也不只被写成个人奋斗。信用既靠勤劳，也靠让勤劳被看见 讲商人的公开形象，公共图书馆能把阅读变成风气 讲一项制度怎样改变一座城的阅读。幸福更常来自每天的小便利 则把幸福落在剃须这样细小、重复的日常摩擦上。

还有几处不必单独拆开，却值得留在这里。少年富兰克林只能从书商学徒那里借到一本小书，晚上借来，第二天一早归还，于是常常读到深夜：

In a little time I made great proficiency in the business, and became a useful hand to my brother. I now had access to better books. An acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled me sometimes to borrow a small one, which I was careful to return soon and clean. Often I sat up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be missed or wanted.

十七岁离家时，他卖掉一些书筹路费，三天后到了三百英里外的纽约，没有介绍信，也几乎不认识任何人：

So I sold some of my books to raise a little money, was taken on board privately, and as we had a fair wind, in three days I found myself in New York, near 300 miles from home, a boy of but 17, without the least recommendation to, or knowledge of, any person in the place, and with very little money in my pocket.

这本书也有无法被自我修养叙事遮住的部分。富兰克林把原住民的灭绝写成了天意 保留了一段关于朗姆酒和北美原住民的文字。它提醒我，善于反省自己的人仍可能对另一群人的灭绝毫无反省。

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