By: Cynthia Lewis "God helps them that help themselves" (Poor Richards Almanack, 722), a phrase commonly quoted from "Poor Richard's Almanacks", illustrates the types of selfishness often seen during Benjamin Franklin's time. Or does it? Is wanting and striving for a better self so bad? Would the reader of such phrase think to himself "Wow, the author is really self-absorbed" or "The author must be a hard worker who values self improvement"? Either way, the real question is why doesn't it say "….. those that help others" instead "….. them that help themselves". You are taught as a young child the