And since he is ignorant
of what _principally_ concerns him, tho' it has been told him a
thousand Times from Parents, Press, and Pulpit, the Vicious Man
however learned, cannot be _a Man of Sense_, but is a Fool, a Dunce,
and a Blockhead.
_The Pennsylvania Gazette_, February 11, 1734/5
_Reply to a Piece of Advice_
_Mr. Franklin,_
In your Paper of the 18th past, some Verses were inserted, said
to be design'd as a PIECE OF ADVICE to a good Friend. As this _Piece
of Advice_, if it had been intended for a particular Friend alone,
might have been as well convey'd to him privately; I suppose the
Author by getting it publish'd, thinks it may be of Use to great
Numbers of others, in his Friend's Circumstances. The import of it
is, "That 'tis mighty silly for a single Man to change his State; for
assoon as his Wishes are crown'd, his expected Bliss dissolves into
Cares in Bondage, which is a compleat Curse; That only Fools in Life
wed, for every Woman is a Tyrant: That he who marries, acts contrary
to his Interest, loses his Liberty and his Friends, and will soon
perceive himself undone; and that the best of the Sex are no better
than a Plague." So ill-natur'd a Thing must have been written, either
by some forlorn old Batchelor, or some cast-away Widower, that has
got the Knack of drowning all his softer Inclinations in his Bowl or
his Bottle.
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