Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Industry need not wish.

I was put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church.

A fat kitchin, a lean Will.

Remember this Saying, 'That the good Paymaster is Lord of another Man's Purse.' He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the Time he promises, may at any Time, and on any Occasion, raise all the Money his Friends can spare.

He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.

If thou hast wit and learning, add to it wisdom and modesty.

Do good to your friends to keep them, to your enemies to win them.

Reckless haste makes poor speed.

That which resembles most living one's life over again, seems to be to recall all the circumstances of it; and, to render this remembrance more durable, to record them in writing.

Strive to be the best and you may succeed: he may well win the race that runs by himself.

That which hurts, also instructs.

Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.

Unless the Stream of their Importation could be turned... they will soon so outnumber us, that all the advantages we have, will not in my Opinion be able to preserve our Language, and even our Government will become precarious.

Beware the hobby that eats.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Those who are fear'd, are hated.

Were the offer made true, I would engage to run again, from beginning to end, the same career of life. All I would ask should be the privilege of an author, to correct, in a second edition, certain errors of the first.

If you can't pay for a thing, don't buy it. If you can't get paid for it, don't sell it. Do this, and you will have calm and drowsy nights, with all of the good business you have now and none of the bad. If you have time, don't wait for time.

Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy.

He's a fool that makes his doctor his heir.

Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

The honest Man takes Pains, and then enjoys Pleasures; the knave takes Pleasure, and then suffers Pains.

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure.

It is better to let 100 criminals go free than to imprison 1 innocent man.

Many a long dispute among divines may be thus abridged: It is so; It is not so. It is so; it is not so.

The handshake of the host affects the taste of the roast

We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride and folly than we are taxed by government.

Practice makes perfect.

Lost time can never be found again

Neither a Fortress nor a Maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parley.

People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.

If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.

I believe there is one Supreme most perfect being. [...] I believe He is pleased and delights in the happiness of those He has created; and since without virtue man can have no happiness in this world, I firmly believe He delights to see me virtuous.

That there is one God, who made all things. That he governs the world by his providence. That he might be worshipped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving. But that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to Man. That the Soul is immortal. And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.

I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.

If you want to be loved, love and be loveable.

When I see nothing annihilated, and not even a drop of water wasted, I cannot suspect the annihilation of souls Thus finding myself to exist in the world, I believe I shall, in some shape or other, always exist; with all the inconveniences human life is liable to, I shall not object to a new edition of mine; hoping, however, that the errata of the last may be corrected.

Men's minds do not die with their bodies but are made more happy or miserable after this life according to their actions.

Dally not with other folk's spouses or money.

A [desire] to abolish slavery prevails in North America, many of the Pennsylvanians have set their slaves at liberty, and [Virginia legislators] have petitioned the King for permission to make a law for preventing the importation of more [slaves] into that colony. This request, however, will probably not be granted, as their former laws of that kind have always been repealed.

Necessity is our quickest excuse.

Do not let fancy outrun your means.

No better relation than a prudent and faithful friend.

The happy State of Matrimony is, undoubtedly, the surest and most lasting Foundation of Comfort and Love . . . the Cause of all good Order in the World, and what alone preserves it from the utmost Confusion.

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. expect nothing - get nothing! but expect something - get something!!

The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.

Men take more pains to mask than mend.

A policy of life insurance is the cheapest and safest mode of making a certain provision for one's family.