Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Chess is so interesting in itself, as not to need the view of gain to induce engaging in it; and thence it is never played for money

He that drinks fast, pays slow.

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

The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.

I was surprised to find myself so much fuller of Faults than I had imagined, but I had the Satisfaction of seeing them diminish.

You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife?

He who gives up freedom for safety deserves neither.

We are not so sensible of the greatest Health as of the least Sickness.

Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.

Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.

I am in the prime of senility.

A virtuous heretic shall be saved before a wicked Christian.

Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason.

Some men grow mad by studying much to know, But who grows mad by studying good to grow.

It is ill-manners to silence a fool and cruelty to let him go on

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

Some of the domestic evils of drunkenness are houses without windows, gardens without fences, fields without tillage, barns without roofs, children without clothing, principles, morals or manners.

Snowy winter, a plentiful harvest.

If any man flatters me, I'll flatter him again; tho' he were my best Friend.

An ounce of wit that is bought, Is worth a pound that is taught.

A little House well fill'd, a little Field well till'd, and a little Wife well will'd, are great Riches.

Stand firm, don't flutter!

Virtue may not always make a Face handsome, but Vice will certainly make it ugly.

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the latter.

There have been as great souls unknown to fame as any of the most famous.

There are more old drunkards than old doctors.

Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, & countenance.

Look round the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!

The only certain things in life are death and taxes!

There's no gain, without pain.

Electrical matter differs from common matter in this, that the parts of the latter mutually attract, those of the former mutually repel each other.

Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities.

If we restrict liberty to attain security we will lose them both.

Hast thou virtue? acquire also the graces and beauties of virtue.

Nor is it of much Importance to us to know the Manner in which Nature executes her laws; 'tis enough to know the Laws themselves.

The nearest I can make it out, "Love your Enemies" means, "Hate your Friends"

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.

An Episcopalian divine once told the Pope that the only difference between their denominations was that "the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong."

An autobiography usually reveals nothing bad about its writer except his memory.

He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.

I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, "Without vanity I may say," etc., but some vain thing immediately followed.

All cats look gray in the dark.

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

Virtues, of ... Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.

At the working man’s house, hunger looks in but dares not enter.

Covetousness is ever attended with solicitude and anxiety.

Virtues, of ... Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

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

If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to the other world?