Benjamin Franklin Henry David Thoreau - 1043 Words

Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau have been thought of as two powerful philosophers in history. Both men were alive centuries ago, but their unique ways of life and ideas still exist in some of history’s most admirable figures. Each man had a judgment that went beyond the era they existed in, but is still obvious in today’s culture. Even though both men are credited for their wise principles, their beliefs do not always coincide with one another. However, one thing they do have in common is that they both revolutionized America through their thoughts, actions, and distinctive opinions on how to improve the world around them. Henry David Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin had a lot of similar ways of life. The men didn’t believe in the†¦show more content†¦His autobiography is the first example of the completion of the American Dream. Franklin talks about his life history as an example to exemplify the most significant American character and principles , like strength of mind, self-reliance, determination, hard work, penny-pinching, and dependence on a code of moral principles are the elements of achievement. He describes how he became an excellent citizen through lack of money and steady assiduousness. Franklin established the potential of life in the New World through his own rise of the social classes. His family was poor when he was a child, but despite that, he became a very rich and influential man. In addition, he declares that he pulled off his achievements through a diligent work ethic. He showed that even ordinary people in Boston possibly would, through industry, turn out to be great people of significance in America. Walden, by Henry David Thoreau describes the events and the thoughts that came to Thoreau all through his time living at Walden Pond in the eighteenth century. Henry David Thoreau was a poet and a theorist who experienced a life of ease so that he could create a relationship between nature, people, and God . His narrative in Walden depicted many themes, for example the significance of the natural world, the implication of development, the meaning of detail, and the connection between the body and mind. He also urbanized many theoretical ideas about living a simple and natural life, andShow MoreRelated Personal Freedom and Independence: The Works of Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau1793 Words   |  8 Pagesthe Works of Benjamin Franklin and Henry Thoreau It is an undisputable fact that the contribution of such prominent philosophers, writers, political and social activists as Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau in developing American statehood is tremendous. The literary works of both men can serve as a manifesto of national and personal liberation, a call for building a better society, where each citizen can live and work freely. Indeed, both Henry Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin emphasize theRead MoreEssay Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreaus Religions737 Words   |  3 PagesBenjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreaus Religions Benjamin Franklin and Henry David Thoreau are by no means religious in any traditional sense of the word. If, however, â€Å"religious† is taken to mean the â€Å"belief in any sort of supreme being...that obliges ethical or moral conduct†, then both Franklin and Thoreau fall into this category. Though the two are strikingly opposite in their manner and social interaction, they are both held to a religious and personal standard. TheirRead MoreThe Emergence Of Self Concept1489 Words   |  6 PagesIndividualism and identity of the Revolutionary Period, many literary voices emerged during the nineteenth century to establish the American Literature. With a fresh and vastly expanding American culture, writers such as Benjamin Franklin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Emerson, published works that constructed a literary tradition in the United States rooted in the ideals of individualism, nature, and self-reliance. Amid the Revolutionary period, America began to establish its culturalRead MoreHenry David Thoreau And Ben Franklin994 Words   |  4 Pagesbecome necessary for everyday life; it has become vital to a society that is ever more dependent on technology. Nevertheless, reading is beneficial in ways that listening and watching movies can never be. The works of Anne Bradstreet, Henry David Thoreau, and Ben Franklin help acknowledge this idea through the impacts they have had on readers still today. If you ask anyone about a book that was also made into a movie which they prefer, most of the time their response is that they preferred reading theRead MoreHappiness : The Goal Of Life1624 Words   |  7 Pagesa. Introduction 2. Religions Perspective on Happiness a. Overview of Religions b. Christians, Islamic and Judaism c. Buddhism and Taoism 3. People Throughout History’s Thoughts on Happiness a. Overview of Peoples Perspectives b. Henry David Thoreau and Benjamin Franklin c. Thomas Jefferson and Aristotle 4. Personal Views on Happiness a. A goal to be accomplished b. Conclusion Happiness: The Goal of Life Throughout the history of mankind there have been a few things that humans have seeked includingRead MoreHow Education Should Be Structured Essay2015 Words   |  9 Pagesnew appreciation for the schools of science and philosophy (â€Å"Enlightenment† 159). Decades later, in the 1820s and 1830s, another revolution of thought occurred, once again challenging the definition of education. These writers, most notably Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Margaret Fuller, were part of a movement known as Transcendentalism, which championed self-education and living out one’s full potential foremost as person in truth rather than in scholarly learning. Although each majorRead MoreRomanticism in American Literature2283 Words   |  10 PagesRomanticism in American Literature, Getting to Know Thoreau Poe Within this paper will be an explanation of the ideals of Romantic writers in Early American Literature. We will also look at some aspects of Romanticism that were uniquely understood by the writers and artists in the United States. There will be a brief discussion of â€Å"bright† and â€Å"dark† Romantic writing and it is there that we will look at the lives, and one poem each, of Henry David Thoreau, a â€Å"bright† romantic writer and Edgar Allan PoeRead Morefamous people1742 Words   |  7 PagesJefferson The author of the five most important words in American history: â€Å"All men are created equal.† 4 Franklin Delano Roosevelt He said, â€Å"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,† and then he proved it. 5 Alexander Hamilton Soldier, banker, and political scientist, he set in motion an agrarian nation’s transformation into an industrial power. 6 Benjamin Franklin The Founder-of-all-trades— scientist, printer, writer, diplomat, inventor, and more; like his country, he containedRead MoreThe Long History Of Summer Camp1901 Words   |  8 Pagesemphasized the idea that God can be found in nature through the application of human reasoning. The popularity of this philosophy grew as it gained public support from various highly regarded figures in the 18th century such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Deistic influence on American life is evidenced by the official motto â€Å"In God We Trust,† which first appeared on United States currency under the Lincoln administration. This saying reflects the views expressed withinRead MoreBrief Survey of American Literature3339 Words   |  14 Pages1730s-1740s) Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) Olaudah Equiano (1745?-1797) Philip Freneau (1752-1832) Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) Hannah Webster Foster (1758-1840) Enlightenment and establishment of the nation Benjamin Franklin a second-generation immigrant of English descendent Writer, printer, publisher, scientist, statesman, and diplomat, he was the most famous and respected private figure of his time. Benjamin Franklin recorded his