Benjamin Franklin Quotes

A father's a treasure; a brother's a comfort; a friend is both.

Have you something to do to-morrow; do it to-day.

Evils come not, then our fears are vain; And if they do fear but augments the pain.

Remember, that money is of the prolific, generating nature.

Some books we read, tho' few there are that hit the happy point where wisdom joins with wit.

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.

Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse

A greater Quantity of some things may be eaten than of others, some being of lighter Digestion than others.

Prayers and Provender hinder no Journey.

A wolf eats sheep but now and then, ten Thousands are devour'd by Men.

The States acceded to the Union.

Strange secrets are let out by Death Who blabs so oft the follies of this world.

Friends are the true Sceptres of Princes.

Don't overload Gratitude; if you do, she'll kick.

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

I am what I am and that's all that I am and if I'm supposed to be somebody else, why do I look like me?

He that won't be counseled can't be helped. He that would have a short Lent, let him borrow Money to be repaid at Easter.

In a discreet man's mouth, a public thing is private.

Never contradict anybody.

Speak and speed: the close mouth catches no flies.

We can defer, yet time is most certainly not.

No nation has ever been ruined by trade.

A virtuous and industrious people may be cheaply governed.

Let thy maid servant be faithful, strong, and homely.

Great talkers, little doers.

When men and woman die, as poets sung, his heart's the last part moves, her last, the tongue.

Cheese and salt meat, should be sparingly eat.

Gaining money by my industry and frugality, I lived very agreeably. . . .

Poverty, Poetry, and new Titles of Honor, make Men ridiculous

Grief for a dead Wife, and a troublesome Guest, Continues to the threshold, and there is at rest; But I mean such wives as are none of the best

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.

It was said of him that he did not say much, but that when he did everyone stopped to listen.

Annual giving is the custom of making a gift-a-year to an institution in which one has faith.

If you would know the value of money; go, and try to borrow some! For, he that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing! and indeed, so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again!

Mankind are dastardly when they meet with opposition.

Christianity commands us to pass by injuries; policy, to let them pass by us.

Take care of the halfpence and pence, and the shillings and pounds will take care of themselves.

At a great pennyworth pause a while.

Here you would know, and enjoy, what prosperity will way of Washington. For a thousand leagues have nearly the same effect with a thousand years.

But in this world nothing is sure but death and taxes. [Fr., Mais dons ce monde, il n'y a rien d'assure que le mort et les impots.]

That as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously.

Anyone willing to give up liberty in exchange for security deserves neither.

Those who sacrifice essential liberty for temporary safety are not deserving of either liberty or safety.

And whether you're an honest man, or whether you're a thief, depends on whose solicitor has given me my brief.

Life is rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life; a man is not completely born till he has passed through death.

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

Nothing is more important for the public wealth than to form and train youth in wisdom and virtue. Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

Who has deceived thee as oft as thyself.

It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.

Dally not with other folk's spouses or money.