Poor Richard's Almanack (1733)
Benjamin Franklin
In the lean world of 18th-century America, Franklin's warning was more than moralistic—overindulgence could genuinely lead to ruin. Poor Richard's Almanack was full of such pragmatic wisdom, reminding its readers that an appetite for luxury might lead to financial and social destitution. Franklin's practical aphorisms were meant to guide the common person, navigating a world where thrift often determined one's survival.