every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.
Well he's not wrong there!
From reading the text, I speculate that Franklin was alluding to the preexisting saying as well -- alluding to the cat in the dark as an accepted axiom.
That would make sense, cleverly recontextualizing a regular saying. It would fit the tone of the letter to do that humorously
Excuse me the what now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advice_to_a_Friend_on_Choosing_a_Mistress?wprov=sfla1
Learn and be scarred
Well he's not wrong there!
From reading the text, I speculate that Franklin was alluding to the preexisting saying as well -- alluding to the cat in the dark as an accepted axiom.
That would make sense, cleverly recontextualizing a regular saying. It would fit the tone of the letter to do that humorously