Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding.

Trusting too much to others care is the ruin of many.

He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath a place of profit and honor. A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.

They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.

I made the greater progress, from that clearness of head and quicker apprehension which generally attend temperance in eating and drinking.

Suspicion may be no fault, but showing it may be a great one.

In order for three people to keep a secret, two must be dead.

Life with Fools consists in Drinking; with the wise Man, living's Thinking.

Little rogues easily become great ones.

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

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.

He that takes a wife, takes care

There is none deceived but he that trusts.

Take heed of the Vinegar of sweet Wine, and the Anger of Good-nature.

Get what you can, and what you get hold; 'tis the Stone that will turn all your Lead into Gold.

The most acceptable service of God is doing good to man.

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou knowest, all thou hast, nor all thou cans't.

Constant dropping wears away stones

All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful

He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.

Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes, lest they lead you a weary Dance after them.

Most fools think they are only ignorant.

One of the advantages of being a 'reasonable creature' is that one can find a reason for whatever one wants to do.

If you have a bald head don't walk out in the sun because you will get burned.

Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others?

The next thing most like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing.

Why does the blind man's wife paint herself.

He that would travel much, should eat little.

He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.

Who pleasure gives, Shall joy receive

America cultivates best what Germany brought forth.

La pereza anda tan despacio que la pobreza no tarda en alcanzarla.

Dangerous, therefore, is it to take shelter under a tree, during a thunder-gust. It has been fatal to many, both men and beasts.

I believe that Man is not the most perfect Being but One, rather that as there are many Degrees of Beings his Inferiors, so there are many Degrees of Beings superior to him.

Our necessities never equal our wants.

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

Time is the stuff life is made of.

Venison and venery defeated me.

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

I wish to live without committing any fault at any time.

No man ever was glorious, who was not laborious.

He that sows Thorns, should never go barefoot.

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

When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed or the other pitied.

I have never seen the Philosopher's Stone that turns lead into Gold, but I have known the pursuit of it turn a Man's Gold into Lead.

Now I've a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow.

Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least, you will by such conduct, stand the best chance for such consequences.

The only time not wasted is wasted time.

Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.

Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted.