One of Benjamin's missions was to help the city of Philadelphia like tradesmen, shopkeepers, and craftsmen to gain knowledge through his own library, which he printed off. This one one way he continued to help his fellow middlemen, and did not care about money or even to credit himself because it became too difficult. Gordon S. Wood quoted an early-eighteenth century observer by saying, The title of a gentleman, is commonly given in England to all that distinguished themselves from the common sort of people, by a good garb, genteel air, or good education(35). This is a typical definition for a gentleman during Benjamin's time. He distinguished himself from the common people by his money. He worked hard because he did what he enjoyed, acquiring information from all over, and slowly putting that into printings. .
Franklin found himself caught between two worlds; between that of aspiring artisans and tradesmen and that of wealthy gentlemen, with whom he mingled constantly (46). This happened because Benjamin believed that the men that filled the middle class had just as much knowledge as that of the elite of gentlemen. During Benjamin's time period, to be accepted as a gentlemen, you only needed to be supported by a gentlemen. Aside from all the extra activities, such as joining gentlemen clubs and primarily surrounding himself with gentlemen, Benjamin still liked to refer to himself as more of a business printer than a gentlemen. Gordon S. Woods continues to talk about the true gentlemen as being able to, take a Walk, or drink a Glass, and converse freely, if there be occasion, with honest Men of any Degree below him, without degrading or fearing to degrade himself in the least (50). This supported the fact Benjamin was a gentleman if he wanted to admit it or not. Woods was saying that a true gentleman is confident and goes about his life with an ease. Benjamin Franklin did this with no problem, he made a large sum of money without hardly even trying, he was simply doing what he loved.
