Benjamin Franklin Quotes

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.

Carelessness does more harm than a want of knowledge.

Industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth . . . thereby [secures] virtue, it being more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly. . . .

He that speaks ill of the mare will buy her.

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

There seems to be three ways for a nation to acquire wealth: the first is by war...this is robbery; the second by commerce, which is generally cheating; the third by agriculture, the only honest way.

Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.

Little strokes fell great oaks.

Every pot must sit on its own bottom.

Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.

Time is an herb that cures all Diseases.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.

Doing your best means never stop trying.

Eat what you like, but dress for other people.

Notwithstanding my experiments with electricity the thunderbolt continues to fall under our noses and beards; and as for the tyrant, there are a million of us still engaged at snatching away his sceptre.

you can do anything you set your mind to

Squeamish stomachs cannot eat without pickles.

What maintains one vice would bring up two children.

Mary's mouth cost her nothing for she never opens it but at others' expense.

Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, money in the purse, credit in the country, contentment in the house, clothes on the back, and vigor in the body.

Historians relate not so much what is done as what they would have believed.

Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.

We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

The good Education of Youth has been esteemed by wise Men in all Ages, as the surest Foundation of the Happiness both of private Families and of Common-wealths. Almost all Governments have therefore made it a principal Object of their Attention, to establish and endow with proper Revenues, such Seminaries of Learning, as might supply the succeeding Age with Men qualified to serve the Publick with Honour to themselves, and to their Country.

Those who would trade in their freedom for their protection deserve neither.

Forewarn'd, forearm'd.

If you'd be wealthy, think of saving, more than of getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes equal her Incomes.

Remember, that money is of the prolific, generating nature.

The English love an insult. It's their only test of a man's sincerity.

Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.

Traveling is one way of lengthening life, at least in appearance.

Change is the only constant in life. Ones ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.

If you ride a horse, sit close and tight, if you ride a man, sit easy and light.

This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong ; like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, tho' in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them.

Lost time is never found again, and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.

Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past; And neither fear nor wish the Approaches of the last. Learn of the skillful: He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.

Experience is the best teacher, but a fool will learn from no other.

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.

By playing at Chess then, we may learn: First: Foresight... Second: Circumspection... Third: Caution...And lastly, we learn by Chess the habit of not being discouraged by present bad appearances in the state of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a favorable chance, and that of persevering in the secrets of resources

Money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more.

Reading was the only amusement I allowed myself

I am what I am and that's all that I am and if I'm supposed to be somebody else, why do I look like me?

Time is money, be a better you.

Fart for freedom, fart for liberty—and fart proudly.

If we lose our Money, it gives us some Concern. If we are cheated or robb'd of it, we are angry: But Money lost may be found; what we are robb'd of may be restored: The Treasure of Time once lost, can never be recovered; yet we squander it as tho' 'twere nothing worth, or we had no Use for it.

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.

The best tranquilizer is a clear conscience.