Benjamin Franklin Quotes (733 Quotes)

Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one.

In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.

If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.

When religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry people about their victuals, it looks as if they had not much of either about them

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech. Written when he was 16.

Can grave and formal pass for wise, When Men the solemn Owl despise

We are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every man among us reads, and is so easy in his circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement and for acquiring information.

He that speaks ill of the mare will buy her.

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.

Franklin told of something which had happened at Lancaster in Pennsylvania at a treaty between the Six Nations and Virginia in 1744. The Virginia commissioners offered to take six Indian boys and educate them at the college in Williamsburg. The Indians, after politely waiting till the next day, declined the offer. Their young men who had gone to college in the northern provinces had come back 'bad runners, ignorant of every means of living in the woods, unable to bear either cold or hunger, knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy, spoke our languages imperfectly, were therefore neither fit for warriors, hunters, or counselors they were totally good for nothing.' But the Indians would take a dozen Virginia boys and educate them properly in the forest.

A good example is the best sermon.

Opportunity is the great Bawd.

If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.

Well done, is twice done.

Pox take you, is no curse to some people.

One today is worth two tomorrows.

Content is the philosopher's stone, that turns all it touches into gold

Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past And neither fear nor wish the Approaches of the last. Learn of the skilful He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.

Necessity never made a good bargain.

As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.

They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.

Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination.

Industry and patience are the surest means of plenty.

Beware the hobby that eats.

Don't you know, that all wives are in the right It may be you don't, for you are yet a young husband

He that buys by the penny, maintains not only himself, but other people

Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

An egg today is better than a hen tomorrow.

Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.

Trouble knocked on the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away

With regard to future bliss, I cannot help imagining that multitudes of the zealously orthodox of different sects, who at the last day may flock together in hopes of seeing each other damned, will be disappointed, and obliged to rest content With the

Experience is a dear teacher, but fools will learn at no other.

Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure nothing more bondage than too much liberty, (or libertinism.)

Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning.

The morning hour has gold in its mouth.

Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience.

Empty the coins in your purse into your mind and your mind will fill your purse with coins.

In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.

Well done is better than well said.

Half wits talk much, but say little.

Human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.

I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has Answer. Commend her among her female acquaintances.

The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt

A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.

God helps those who help themselves.

Those that won't be counseled can't be helped.

He's a Fool that makes his Doctor his Heir.

Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy.

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich