Learning to Write ...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 us, to wit, giving or
receiving Information, or Pleasure.... American statesman,
inventor, writer, and diplomat. Born in Boston, Franklin was
apprenticed at twelve to his brother, a printer. He resettled in
Philadelphia and at twenty-four was editor and publisher of the
Pennsylvania Gazette. In 1733 he began writing Poor Richard's
Almanack, a collection of aphorisms and advice. Retiring from
business at forty-two to devote himself to study and research,
he soon found himself involved in colonial politics. From 1757
until 1763 he represented the colonies in England. He served on
the committee appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence
and later was both ministe