Franklin’s Reason for Poor Richard’s Almanac

From our Humor Department:

I might at this place attempt to gain thy favor, by declaring that I write Almanacks with no other View than that of the publick good; but in this I should not be sincere; and Men are now a-days too wise to be deceiv’d by Pretences how specious soever. The plain Truth of the Matter is, I am excessive poor and my Wife, good Woman, is, I tell her, excessive proud; she cannot bear, she says to sit spinning in her Shift of Tow, while I do nothing but gaze at the Stars; and threatned more than once to burn all of my Books and Rattling-Traps (as she calls my Instruments) if I do not make some profitable Use of them for the good of my Family. The Printer has offer’d me some considerable share of the Profits, and I have thus begun to comply with my Dame’s desire.

– Benjamin Franklin, Forward to first edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1733

More on Franklin and on the Almanac.