Benjamin Franklin Quotes & Sayings

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. — Benjamin Franklin

Do not do that which you would not have known. — Benjamin Franklin

A little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts. — Benjamin Franklin

The Existence of Deity, that he made the World, and govern'd it by his Providence; that the most acceptable Service of God was the doing Good to Man; that our Souls are immortal; and that all Crime will be punished and Virtue rewarded either here or hereafter ... — Benjamin Franklin

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. — Benjamin Franklin

Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience. — Benjamin Franklin

It might be judged an affront to your understanding should I go about to prove this first principle; the existence of a Diety and that He is the Creator of the universe, for that would suppose you ignorant of what all mankind in all ages have agreed in. — Benjamin Franklin

To all apparent beauties blind, each blemish strikes an envious mind. — Benjamin Franklin

Most people die at 25 and aren't buried until they're 75 — Benjamin Franklin

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. — Benjamin Franklin

Sarcasm is the lowest form of humor but the highest form of flattery. — Benjamin Franklin

Truth and sincerity have a certain distinguishing native lustre about them which cannot be perfectly counterfeited; they are like fire and flame, that cannot be painted. — Benjamin Franklin

He that lives well, is learned enough. — Benjamin Franklin

Necessity is our quickest excuse. — Benjamin Franklin

Your net worth to the
world is usually determined by what
remains after your bad habits are
subtracted from your good ones — Benjamin Franklin

Ill customs and bad advice are seldom forgotten. — Benjamin Franklin

If you want to keep a secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend. — Benjamin Franklin

And we daily in our experiments electrise bodies plus or minus, as we think proper. [These terms we may use till your Philosophers give us better.] To electrise plus or minus, no more needs to be known than this, that the parts of the Tube or Sphere, that are rubb'd, do, in the Instant of Friction, attract the Electrical Fire, and therefore take it from the Thin rubbing; the same parts immediately, as the Friction upon them ceases, are disposed to give the fire they have received, to any Body that has less. — Benjamin Franklin

One day is worth a thousand tomorrows. — Benjamin Franklin

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

Don't think to hunt two hares with one dog. — Benjamin Franklin

A people who chose security over liberty will receive neither nor deserve either. — Benjamin Franklin

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech. — Benjamin Franklin

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

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

Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made out of. — Benjamin Franklin

If you do tomorrow what you did today , you will get tomorrow what you got today — Benjamin Franklin

Perhaps I was too saucy and provoking. — Benjamin Franklin

For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? — Benjamin Franklin

Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits. — Benjamin Franklin

Since I cannot govern my own tongue, though within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongue of others? — Benjamin Franklin

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. — Benjamin Franklin

Never trust a government that doesn't trust its own citizens with guns. — Benjamin Franklin

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. expect nothing - get nothing! but expect something - get something!! — Benjamin Franklin

There are no gains without pains. — Benjamin Franklin

We need a revolution every 200 years, because all governments become stale and corrupt after 200 years. — Benjamin Franklin

If you'd be beloved, make yourself amiable. A true friend is the best possession. — Benjamin Franklin

Speak little, do much. — Benjamin Franklin

You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards ... Even the mixed imperfect pleasures we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit, how much more such happiness of heaven! — Benjamin Franklin

Wealth and Content are not always Bed-fellows. — Benjamin Franklin

The sun of liberty is set; you must light up the candle of industry and economy. — Benjamin Franklin

There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies. — Benjamin Franklin

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today. — Benjamin Franklin

He that is the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. — Benjamin Franklin

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. — Benjamin Franklin

Discretion did not always accompany years, nor was youth always without it. — Benjamin Franklin

When I wake up in the morning, I immediately check the morning paper. If my name is not in the obituaries, I get up — Benjamin Franklin

When nature gave us tears, She gave us leave to weep. — Benjamin Franklin

A little sturdiness when superiors are much in the wrong sometimes occasions consideration. And there is truth in the old saying that if you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you. — Benjamin Franklin

Alas, I know if I ever became truly humble, I would be proud of it. — Benjamin Franklin

Stand firm, don't flutter! — Benjamin Franklin

That which resembles most living one's life over again, seems to be to recall all the circumstances of it; and, to render this remembrance more durable, to record them in writing. — Benjamin Franklin

One Man may be more cunning than another, but not more cunning than every body else. — Benjamin Franklin

It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man. — Benjamin Franklin

He that is rich need not live sparingly,
and he that can live sparingly need not be rich. — Benjamin Franklin

Keep conscience clear, then never fear. — Benjamin Franklin

Great talkers are little doers. — Benjamin Franklin

Teach your child to hold his tongue; he'll learn fast enough to speak. — Benjamin Franklin

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. — Benjamin Franklin

I think that humanity brings much misery on itself by the false value they put on things. — Benjamin Franklin

I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, — Benjamin Franklin

I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth
that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel — Benjamin Franklin

There was never a bad peace or a good war. — Benjamin Franklin

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

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

Love you Neighbor; yet don't pull down your Hedge. — Benjamin Franklin

Britain was formerly the America of the Germans. — Benjamin Franklin

After all, wedlock is the natural state of man. A bachelor is not a complete human being. He is like the odd half of a pair of scissors, which has not yet found its fellow, and therefore is not even half so useful as they might be together. — Benjamin Franklin

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. — Benjamin Franklin

I should have mentioned before, that, in the autumn of the preceding year, I had form'd most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the JUNTO; we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss'd by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased. Our debates were to be under the direction of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory; and, to prevent warmth, all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband, and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties. — Benjamin Franklin

Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if your own windows are glass. — Benjamin Franklin

1) Temperance ... drink not to elevation. (2) Silence ... avoid trifling conversations. (3) Order: Let all your things have their places ... (4) Resolution ... perform without fail what you resolve. (5) Frugality ... i.e. waste nothing. (6) Industry: Lose no time; be always employ'd ... (7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently ... (8) Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries ... (9) Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting ... (10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body ... (11) Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles ... (12) Chastity (13) Humility : Imitate Jesus ... — Benjamin Franklin

Beer is proof that God wants us to be happy — Benjamin Franklin

Nature performs the cure, the physician takes the fee. — Benjamin Franklin

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

Then plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. — Benjamin Franklin

A word to the wise is enough, and many words won't fill a bushel. — Benjamin Franklin

Mankind are very odd creatures:
one half censure what they practice,
the other half practice what they censure;
the rest always say and do as they ought. — Benjamin Franklin

The wise and the brave dares own that he was wrong. — Benjamin Franklin

All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful — Benjamin Franklin

Industry pays debts, while despair increases them. — Benjamin Franklin

Be temperate in wine, in eating, girls, & sloth; Or the Gout will seize you and plague you both. — Benjamin Franklin

Half-wits talk much, but say little. — Benjamin Franklin

Courteous Reader, Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, held in high esteem of old, by the Wise and the Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight in Battle, in short, no important affair was undertaken without first consulting an Astrologer. — Benjamin Franklin

Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore. — Benjamin Franklin

It is foolish to lay out money for the purchase of repentance. — Benjamin Franklin

I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. — Benjamin Franklin

What signifies Philosophy that does not apply to some Use? May we not learn from hence, that black Clothes are not so fit to wear in a hot Sunny Climate or Season, as white ones; because in such Cloaths the Body is more heated by the Sun when we walk abroad, and are at the same time heated by the Exercise, which double Heat is apt to bring on putrid dangerous Fevers? The Soldiers and Seamen, who must march and labour in the Sun, should in the East or West Indies have an Uniform of white? — Benjamin Franklin

Tis against some mens principle to pay interest, and seems against others interest to pay the principle. — Benjamin Franklin

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. — Benjamin Franklin

A [desire] to abolish slavery prevails in North America, many of the Pennsylvanians have set their slaves at liberty, and [Virginia legislators] have petitioned the King for permission to make a law for preventing the importation of more [slaves] into that colony. This request, however, will probably not be granted, as their former laws of that kind have always been repealed. — Benjamin Franklin

Don't cry over spilled milk — Benjamin Franklin

Success has ruin'd many a man. — Benjamin Franklin

To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote. — Benjamin Franklin

The man that walks wit crowd, will get no farther than the crowd. The man that walks alone, will reach places unknown. — Benjamin Franklin

I am the laziest man in the world. I invented all those things to save myself from toil. — Benjamin Franklin

Constant complaint is the poorest sort of pay for all the comforts we enjoy. — Benjamin Franklin

There is nothing wrong with retirement as long as one doesn't allow it to interfere with one's work. — Benjamin Franklin

[T]he more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer ... [taking] away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependence of somewhat else than a careful accumulation during youth and health for support in age and sickness. — Benjamin Franklin

Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society. — Benjamin Franklin