God Helps Them That Help Themselves

Letter 92

Kind Reader,

On November 17, 1747, I published a pamphlet entitled Plain Truth, wherein I urged the people of Pennsylvania in general, and of Philadelphia in particular, to join together in common cause to defend their city and province against the danger of attack by our French, Spanish, and Indian enemies, Britain then being at war. I printed editions in both English and German, there being many German immigrants in Pennsylvania at the time.

The Pennsylvania Assembly, made up chiefly of Quakers, opposed all warlike measures, even the purchase of arms for those inclined to use them. As the money so to be spent was not their money, but the money of the whole people, I though it unaccountable that they should be willing to so impose their religious scruple upon the entire colony, by denying us the use of the people’s money for the people’s defense.

I therefore determined to try what might be done by a voluntary association of the people, or of such among us as were inclined to rely upon more than prayers and good wishes for our defense.

In Plain Truth, I laid out the benefits and necessity of such a voluntary militia, to be maintained unless -- or until -- one could be embodied by the laws of the province (as would be preferable).

“All we want is order, discipline, and a few cannon. At present we are like the separate filaments of flax before the thread is formed, without strength because without connection; but union would make us strong and even formidable.”

Plain Truth was illustrated with a woodcut. It was made for a children’s book I had recently printed, but here I found another use for it. It illustrated Aesop’s fable of “The Wagoner and Hercules.” I joined with the woodcut the words of the fable, along with (for the benefit of the learned) a Latin quotation from Sallust’s “Cataline War” and a translation thereof.

The moral of the fable and the message of the pamphlet may both be useful if heeded in many different circumstances. When men join together and act in concert (neither waiting upon Providence nor acting without plan or order, each man for himself), they can accomplish wonders.

I remain, as ever,

your humble and obedient servant,

B. Franklin
_________________________________

As a wagoner was driving his team, his wagon sank into a hole and stuck fast. The poor man immediately fell upon his knees, and prayed to Hercules that he would get his wagon out of the hole again. “Thou fool,” said Hercules, “whip thy horses and set thy shoulder to the wheel; and then, if thou wilt call upon Hercules, he will help thee.”

“Non votis neque suppliciis muliebribus auxilia deorum parantur; vigilando, agendo, bene consulendo prospere omnia cedunt.” - Sallust

“Divine assistance and protection are not to be obtained by timorous prayers and womanish supplications. To succeed, you must join salutary counsels, vigilance, and courageous actions.”
_____________________________