One to one, one to two, two to three

Question

Hi, guys,

The text below is by Benjamin Franklin. I don’t understand the parenthesized part. I know one to one is 1:1, one to two 1:2, two to three 2:3, but this doesn’t make the sentence clear. This is not equal, right? I hope you help me with this. Thank you in advance.
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If you doubt, set down all the reasons, pro and con, in opposite columns on a sheet of paper, and when you have considered them two or three days, perform an operation similar to that in some questions of algebra; observe what reasons, or motives in each column are equal in weight, (one to one, one to two, two to three,) or the like, and when you have struck out from both sides all the equalities, you will see in which column remains the balance.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

He means that maybe one ordinary "pro" is equivalent to one ordinary "con", and one big "pro" might be equivalent to two (or three) ordinary "cons" ...etc.
You just have to offset them against each other and see if you end up with a balance of "pros" or "cons."

GPY · Answer

It could mean:

one reason in column one = one reason in column two
one reason in column one = two reasons in column two
two reasons in column one = three reasons in column two

Samuraigirl · Answer

Hi, guys,

Maybe I should've written longer:

The text below is by Benjamin Franklin. I don’t understand the parenthesized part. I know one to one is 1:1, one to two 1:2, two to three 2:3, but this doesn’t make the sentence clear. This is not equal, right? I hope you help me with this. Thank you in advance.
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A close friend of mine (call him Harry) once found himself with two girlfriends, both of whom he loved, desired, and admired. Two, however, were one too many. Confused by contradicting emotions and unable to make up his mind, he recalled what Benjamin Franklin had once advised a nephew in a similar situation:

April 8, 1779
If you doubt, set down all the reasons, pro and con, in opposite columns on a sheet of paper, and when you have considered them two or three days, perform an operation similar to that in some questions of algebra; observe what reasons, or motives in each column are equal in weight, (one to one, one to two, two to three,) or the like, and when you have struck out from both sides all the equalities, you will see in which column remains the balance. […] This kind of moral algebra I have often practiced in important and dubious concerns, and though it cannot be mathematically exact, I have found it extremely useful. By the way, if you do not learn it, I apprehend you will never be married.

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Does this mean something like this?

Linda Maria
kind kind 1 to 1
intellectual will become a good mother 1 to 2
(For him becoming a good mother is of more importance)
a doctor Her father is rich 2 to 3
(For him his girlfriend is a doctor wins 2 points while a rich father has three-point importance)

Isn’t it strange?

CalifJim · Answer

samuraigirlDoes this mean something like this?

Probably not so literally with your "x to y" formulations. I think he is just suggesting that each item in each column be given a number that says how important it is. Then you add the columns and see which has the greatest total.

Besides, you're comparing two different women, and Franklin is talking about a column for advantages and another for disadvantages for the same course of action.

................. Should I buy a new car? ..................

PROs .................................... CONs .................

[ list of pros ] ...................... [ list of cons ]

Each item in each list gets a number.

(Of course you can do a comparison as you have done using the same method, but that was not Franklin's original idea.)

CJ

GPY · Answer

samuraigirlMaybe I should've written longer:

To me it still means what the original answers said.

One to one, one to two, two to three

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