An important element of an autobiography is self-evaluation or introspection. Which sentences in this excerpt from the Autobiogr
aphy of Benjamin Franklin show the narrator's introspection? In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.
But, on the whole, tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, tho' they never reach the wish'd-for excellence of those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and is tolerable while it continues fair and legible.
It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little artifice, with the blessing of God, their ancestor ow'd the constant felicity of his life, down to his 79th year, in which this is written.
I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.
In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.
But, on the whole, tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, tho' they never reach the wish'd-for excellence of those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and is tolerable while it continues fair and legible.
Explanation:
In this sentence , Franklin admits he is obessed with order. He sees this by himself; he is not referring to what other people may think of him. He also talks about his weaknesses: he has become old and his memory is failing him.
In this second sentence, the speaker talks about his own opinion about the efforts he himself has made. He has always wanted to achieve perfection but the only way he has found to attain it was by his own endeless trials. He has never given in; he will never abandon his efforts. Here, he compares himself with writers. Both , the writers and he himself may not attain excellence , but they will go on working.
1. In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.
2. . But, on the whole, tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, tho' they never reach the wish'd-for excellence of those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and is tolerable while it continues fair and legible.
