Benjamin Franklin Quotes

If your head is made of wax, don't walk in the sun

Did not strong connections draw me elsewhere, I believe Scotland would be the country I would choose to end my days in.

A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.

Plough deep while sluggards sleep.

The Honey is sweet, but the Bee has a Sting.

Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.

He that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor.

Virtue alone is sufficient to make a man great, glorious, and happy.

A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.

Those who give up liberty for the sake of security, deserve neither liberty nor security.

A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy - "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it."

I wish it were possible, from this instance, to invent a method of embalming drowned persons in such a manner that they may be recalled to life at any period, however distant; for having a very ardent desire to see and observe the state of America a hundred years hence, I should prefer to any ordinary death the being immersed in a cask of Madeira wine with a few friends till that time, to be then recalled to life by the solar warmth of my dear country!

There will be sleeping enough in the grave.

If we give up freedom for security, we are in danger of losing both.

We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that 'except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it' I firmly believe this; by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a by word down to future ages.

Bad gains are true losses.

Remember that credit is money.

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped.

The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it.

Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.

Success has ruined many a man.

If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, at the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.

Getting into debt, is getting into a tanglesome net.

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.

Women are books, and men the readers be.

Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience.

Some make Conscience of wearing a Hat in the Church, who make none of robbing the Altar.

If better is possible, good is not enough

There is much difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.

The punishment of murder by death is contrary to reason, and to the order and happiness of society, and contrary to divine revelation.

Great hopes make everything great possible

Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.

Whether a Commonwealth suffers more by hypocritical pretenders to religion or by the openly profane? The most dangerous hypocrite in a Commonwealth is one who leaves the gospel for the sake of the law. A man compounded of law and gospel is able to cheat a whole country with his religion and then destroy them under color of law.

Diligence overcomes difficulties; sloth makes them.

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things

Common sense is something that everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack.

Then plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.

There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharoah - get first all the people's money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants forever.

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.

Beer is proof that God wants us to be happy

Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.

Contentment makes a poor person rich and discontent makes a rich person poor.

Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.

Never take a wife till thou hast a house (and a fire) to put her in.

Let the experiment be made.

If you have time don't wait for time.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.