Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and likes to see us happy.

It's better to swim in the sea below Than to swing in the air and feed the crow, Says jolly Ned Teach of Bristol.

Most fools think they are only ignorant.

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

The good or ill hap of a good or ill life, is the good or ill choice of a good or ill wife.

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.

When men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public; when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter.

Take courage, Mortal... Death cannot banish you from the Universe.

Pity and forbearance should characterize all acts of justice.

An infallible Remedy for the Tooth-ach, viz Wash the Root of an aching Tooth, in Elder Vinegar, and let it dry half an hour in the Sun; after which it will never ach more; Probatum est.

Nature performs the cure, the physician takes the fee.

Man is a tool-making animal

A ship under sail and a big-bellied woman, Are the handsomest two things that can be seen common.

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but it is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.

I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe in that He ought to be whipped from pilar to post and back again for His shameful actions toward Humanity.

Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended

There was never a good war, or a bad peace.

The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.

There's many witty men whose brains can't fill their bellies.

Masonic labor is purely a labor of love. He who seeks to draw Masonic wages in gold and silver will be disappointed. The wages of a Mason are in the dealings with one another; sympathy begets sympathy, kindness begets kindness, helpfulness begets helpfulness, and these are the wages of a Mason.

Revelation, indeed, as such had no influence on my mind

If a man would reap praise, you must sow the seeds, gentle words and useful deeds.

Nothing's so apt to undermine your confidence in a product as knowing that the commercial selling it has been approved by the company that makes it.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.

In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.

You have two choices, write about something of significance or do something someone wants to write about.

But our great security lies, I think, in our growing strength.

I never turned to drink. It seemed to turn to me.

In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.

Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.

[E]very Man who comes among us, and takes up a piece of Land, becomes a Citizen, and by our Constitution has a Voice in Elections, and a share in the Government of the Country.

Hot things, sharp things, sweet things, cold things All rot the teeth, and make them look like old things.

The US Constitution only guarantees your rights as a citizen, it doesn't guarantee happiness. It may take work, but if you have your rights, happiness is very possible.

There is always room for the man of force.

Take time for all things.

Anger and folly walk cheeck by jowl.

Mine is better than ours.

Let the child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.

Pay what you owe and you'll know what's your own.

In Truth I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my Memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.

There was great difference in persons; and discretion did not always accompany years, nor was youth always without it.

Remember, that six pounds a year is but a groat a day.

If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.

Grievances cannot be redressed until they are known; and they cannot be known but through complaints and petitions. If these are deemed affronts, and the messengers punished as offenders, who will henceforth send petitions? And who will deliver them? Wise governments encouraged the airing of grievances, even those that were lightly founded Foolish governments did the opposite - to their peril. Where complaining is a crime, hope becomes despair.

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.