{"product_id":"2940157914295","title":"The Art of Virtue","description":"WANT TO KNOW THE ART TO HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKind Reader,\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHaving emerg'd from the Poverty \u0026amp; Obscurity in which I was born \u0026amp; bred,\u003cbr\u003eto a State of Affluence \u0026amp; some Degree of Reputation in the World,\u003cbr\u003eand having gone so far thro' Life with a considerable Share of Felicity,\u003cbr\u003ethe conducing Means I made use of, which, with the Blessing of God, so well succeeded,\u003cbr\u003emy Posterity may like to know, as they may find some of them suitable to their own Situations,\u003cbr\u003e\u0026amp; therefore fit to be imitated.--\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI purpose . . . a little Work for the Benefit of Youth, to be call'd The Art of Virtue.\u003cbr\u003eFrom the Title I think you will hardly conjecture what the Nature of such a Book may be.\u003cbr\u003eI must therefore explain it a little.  Many People lead bad Lives that would gladly lead good ones,\u003cbr\u003ebut know not how to make the Change.  They have frequently resolv'd and endeavour'd it;\u003cbr\u003ebut in vain, because their Endeavours have not been properly conducted.\u003cbr\u003eTo exhort People to be good, to be just, to be temperate, \u0026amp;c.\u003cbr\u003ewithout shewing them how they shall become so,\u003cbr\u003eseems like the ineffectual Charity mention'd by the Apostle,\u003cbr\u003ewhich consisted in saying to the Hungry, the Cold, and the Naked,\u003cbr\u003ebe ye fed, be ye warmed, be ye clothed,\u003cbr\u003ewithout shewing them how they should get Food, Fire or Clothing.\u003cbr\u003eMost People have naturally some Virtues, but none have naturally all the Virtues.\u003cbr\u003eTo acquire those that are wanting, and secure what we acquire as well as those we have naturally,\u003cbr\u003eis the Subject of an Art.  It is as properly an Art, as Painting, Navigation, or Architecture.\u003cbr\u003eIf a Man would become a Painter, Navigator, or Architect,\u003cbr\u003eit is not enough that he is advised to be one,\u003cbr\u003ethat he is convinc'd by the Arguments of his Adviser that it would be for his Advantage to be one,\u003cbr\u003eand that he resolves to be one,\u003cbr\u003ebut he must also be taught the Principles of the Art, be shewn all the Methods of Working,\u003cbr\u003eand how to acquire the Habits of using properly all the Instruments;\u003cbr\u003eand thus regularly and gradually he arrives by Practice at some Perfection in the Art.\u003cbr\u003eIf he does not proceed thus, he is apt to meet with Difficulties that discourage him,\u003cbr\u003eand make him drop the Pursuit.\u003cbr\u003eMy Art of Virtue has also its Instruments, and teaches the Manner of Using them. . . .\u003cbr\u003eOur Art of Virtue may therefore be of great Service . . . all may be more or less benefited by it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd now I speak of thanking God,\u003cbr\u003eI desire with all Humility to acknowledge,\u003cbr\u003ethat I owe the mention'd Happiness of my past Life to his kind Providence,\u003cbr\u003ewhich led me to the Means I us'd \u0026amp; gave them Success.--\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith the sincerest Esteem and Attachment, I am . . .\u003cbr\u003eyour . . . obedient and most humble Servant\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eB. FRANKLIN.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e* PGS Books is dedicated to preserving and presenting America's best and most significant prosperity and self-help writings.  This PGS Books edition of The Art to Virtue includes:\u003cbr\u003eSucceeding in Conversation and Conversation HINTS,\u003cbr\u003eThe Saws of Social Wisdom,\u003cbr\u003eThe Rules of Health and Long Life,\u003cbr\u003eand The Adages of Health \u0026amp; Happiness;\u003cbr\u003eplus 44 other powerful character-building pieces,\u003cbr\u003eand an exclusive glossary created specifically for this collection of writings\u003cbr\u003eby Dr. Franklin, the father of self-help in America.","brand":"PGS Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47174116573424,"sku":"2940157914295","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940157914295_p0.jpg?v=1764106147","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940157914295","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}