Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Justice is as strictly due between neighbor nations as between neighbor citizens.

Fatigue is the best pillow.

Many estates are spent in the getting, since women for tea forsake spinning and knitting, and men for punch forsake hewing and splitting.

If you, do what you should not, you must bear what you would not.

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

Who pleasure gives, Shall joy receive

He that takes a wife, takes care

A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone.

He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees.

As we benefit from the inventions of others, we should be glad to share our own ... freely and gladly.

Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.

Whenever we attempt to mend the scheme of Providence and to interfere in the Government of the world, we had need be very circumspect lest we do more harm than good.

He that hath a Trade, hath an Estate.

It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow.

When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to you, look on his mouth.

He that drinks fast, pays slow.

They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself.

As Pride increases, Fortune declines.

People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.

Gentlemen, I have lived a long time and am convinced that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? I move that prayer imploring the assistance of Heaven be held every morning before we proceed to business.

To Follow by faith alone is to follow blindly.

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

The first mistake in public business is the going into it.

Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.

A good example is the best sermon.

Venison and venery defeated me.

Prodigality of Time produces Poverty of Mind as well as of Estate.

And as to the Cares, they are chiefly what attend the bringing up of Children; and I would ask any Man who has experienced it, if they are not the most delightful Cares in the World; and if from that Particular alone, he does not find the Bliss of a double State much greater, instead of being less than he expected.

He gives twice that gives soon, i.e., he will soon be called to give again.

[It was] the poverty caused by the bad influence of the English bankers on the Parliament which has caused in the colonies hatred of the English and . . . the Revolutionary War.

Leisure is the time for doing something useful.

Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.

A place for everything, everything in its place.

Human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.

Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.

It is only when the rich are sick that they fully feel the impotence of wealth.

Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.

In success be moderate.

A full Belly brings forth every Evil.

Lend money to an enemy, and thou will gain him, to a friend and thou will lose him.

We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.

We are all born without knowledge, but curious. With curiosity we should be able to learn as much as possible. With curiosity, it has to take a lot of work to remain ignorant.

Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.

Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of flattery.