Benjamin Franklin Quotes (733 Quotes)

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

In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.

How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.

He was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.

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

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

The most exquisite Folly is made of Wisdom spun too fine.

If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.

Happy that nation, fortunate that age, whose history is not diverting.

He that knows nothing of it, may by chance be a Prophet while the wisest that is may happen to miss. The poor man must walk to get meat for his stomach, the rich man to get a stomach for his meat.

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

Without justice, courage is weak.

Most people return small favors, acknowledge medium ones and repay greater ones - with ingratitude.

Many complain of their memory, few of their judgment.

Those disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory, sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them.

Learn of the skillful he that teaches himself, has a fool for his master.

There is always room for the man of force.

Lost time is never found again and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.

Dont think to hunt two hares with one dog.

Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Nothing preaches better than the act.

I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things.

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

Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.

I have met the enemy, and it is the eyes of other people.

Eighth and lastly. They are so grateful.

He that blows the coals in quarrels he has nothing to do with has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face.

If thou dost ill, the joy fades, not the pains If well, the pain doth fade, the joy remains.

Tis better leave for an enemy at one's death, than beg of a friend in one's life

Would you live with ease, Do what you ought, and not what you please.

The doors of wisdom are never shut.

The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.

Love and toothache have many cures, but none infallible, except possession and dispossession.

The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.

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

And where is the Prince who can afford to so cover his country with troops for its defense, as that ten thousand men descending from the clouds, might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief, before a force could be brought together to repel them

There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.

If you would persuade, speak of interest, not reason.

Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.

Man is a tool-making animal.

Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains. He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor but then the trade must be worked at and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve for at the workingmans house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while idleness and neglect increase them.

Wide will wear, but Narrow will tear.

Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the pract

George Washington, Commander of the American armies, who, like Joshua of old, commanded the sun and the moon to stand still, and they obeyed him.

A word to the wise is enough, and many words wont fill a bushel.

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

And he that pays ready Money, might let that Money out to Use so that

They that study much, ought not to eat so much as those that work hard, their Digestion being not so good.

Lying rides upon debt's back.