I got tickled today by a Benjamin Franklin quote I came across in the book, The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H. W. Brands.
Benjamin Franklin retired from the printing business in 1748 at the age of 42. He wrote the following to his friend Cadwallader Colden.
"I am settling my old accounts and hope soon to be quite a master of my own time, and no longer (as the song has it) at every one's call but my own . . . I am in a fair way of having no other tasks than such as I shall like to give my self, and of enjoying what I look upon as a great happiness, leisure to read, study, make experiments, and converse at large with such ingenious and worthy men as are pleased to honour me with their friendship or acquaintance, on such points as may produce something for the common benefit of mankind, uninterrupted by the little cares and fatigues of business."
I don't feel compelled to produce something for the common benefit of mankind, but the rest of it sounds pretty good to me.
Young folks may not appreciate Ben's sentiment, but I expect the retired and nearly retired will.
To work as I wish, or not at all
To be the master of my own time
To associate with people of my choosing
To read, ponder, wander, and pursue whatever interests me
To be free of the everyday hassles and aggravations of the work world
It would be peace, harmony, bliss, ecstasy, heaven
Tom
August 2011
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