The following paper is on the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and the question of truthfulness surrounding Franklin's writings of his youthful exploits. The question stated, is the question of Franklin's humility and whether or not he obtained humility through his youth. I believe Franklin does present a truthful picture of his life and also agree with Franklin's belief that he never did obtain the virtue of humility, only the appearance of it. I will support this belief in describing and analyzing portions of his youth to support my thesis.
             The definition of humility as defined in the Webster's dictionary is the state or quality of being humble, as one would relate to Franklin's start in life being born in poverty and obscurity. "Having emerged from the Poverty and Obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a State of Affluence, and some Degree of Reputation in the World, and having gone so far thro' Life with a considerable Share of Felicity,... (pp. 332). He was the youngest son of seventeen children that came from both marriages from his father, Josiah Franklin. His schooling ended at ten, and at 12 he became an apprentice to his brother James, a printer who published the New England Courant. Eventually, however, the two brothers quarreled and Ben ran away going first to New York and then to Philadelphia. It is obvious that he had a tough childhood growing up which definitely impacted his motivation in a positive way and is without a doubt one of the reasons why he is so driven and goal-oriented. He helped founded electricity, the University of Pennsylvania, and the first public library in America. He invented bifocal glasses; open heating stoves, and a type of harmonica called a kazoo. Furthermore, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and was a member of the constitutional convention in 1787. These are extraordinary goals for one man to reach, especially at ...