Benjamin Franklin

A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
– Benjamin Franklin

Energy and persistence conquer all things.
– Benjamin Franklin

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.
– Benjamin Franklin

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
– Benjamin Franklin

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You
have to catch it yourself.
– Benjamin Franklin

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.
– Benjamin Franklin

Dilligence is the mother of good luck.
– Benjamin Franklin

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.
– Benjamin Franklin

Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.
– Benjamin Franklin

Many people die at twenty five and aren’t buried until they are seventy five.
– Benjamin Franklin

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
– Benjamin Franklin

Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain
failure.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
– Benjamin Franklin

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
– Benjamin Franklin

Well done is better than well said.
– Benjamin Franklin

When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.
– Benjamin Franklin

To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to
repay it.
– Benjamin Franklin

Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
– Benjamin Franklin

Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.
– Benjamin Franklin

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.
– Benjamin Franklin

Drink does not drown care, but waters it, and makes it grow faster.
– Benjamin Franklin

It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.
– Benjamin Franklin

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
– Benjamin Franklin

Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
– Benjamin Franklin

Virtue and a trade, are a child’s best portion.
– Benjamin Franklin

A country man between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.
– Benjamin Franklin

A man in a passion rides a mad horse.
– Benjamin Franklin

Tim was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages. So ignorant, that he bought
a cow to ride on.
– Benjamin Franklin

Our limited perspective, our hopes and fears become our measure of life, and when
circumstances don’t fit our ideas, they become our difficulties.
– Benjamin Franklin

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.
– Benjamin Franklin

Wish a miser long life, and you wish him no good.
– Benjamin Franklin

Is there anything men take more pains about than to make themselves unhappy?
– Benjamin Franklin

God, parents, and instructors can never be requited.
– Benjamin Franklin

He’s the best physician that knows the worthlessness of most medicines.
– Benjamin Franklin

Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

You may be more happy than princes, if you will be more virtuous.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that rises late must trot all day.
– Benjamin Franklin

To be humble to superiors is duty; to equals courtesy; to inferiors nobleness.
– Benjamin Franklin

As pride increases, fortune declines.
– Benjamin Franklin

He is not well-bred, that cannot bear ill-breeding in others.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Trust yourself, and another shall not betray you.
– Benjamin Franklin

Duty is not beneficial because it is commanded, but it is commanded because it is beneficial.
– Benjamin Franklin

Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in
great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.
– Benjamin Franklin

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two different things.
– Benjamin Franklin

Lost time is never found again.
– Benjamin Franklin

Beware of little expenses, a small leak will sink a great ship.
– Benjamin Franklin

Never confuse motion with action.
– Benjamin Franklin

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.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable,
and those that move.
– Benjamin Franklin

The doors of wisdom are never shut.
– Benjamin Franklin

Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
– Benjamin Franklin

Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.
– Benjamin Franklin

There are three great friends: an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.
– Benjamin Franklin

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.
– Benjamin Franklin

There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently
fall than that of defrauding the government.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.
– Benjamin Franklin

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend,
your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct
that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all others, charity.
– Benjamin Franklin

Learn of the skillful; he that teaches himself has a fool for his master.
– Benjamin Franklin

You cannot pluck roses without fear of thorns, nor enjoy a fair wife without danger of horns.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
– Benjamin Franklin

Friendship cannot live with ceremony, nor without civility.
– Benjamin Franklin

Half wits talk much but say little.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you would keep your secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.
– Benjamin Franklin

At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.
– Benjamin Franklin

Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.
– Benjamin Franklin

Those who are feared are hated.
– Benjamin Franklin

When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to thee, look on his mouth.
– Benjamin Franklin

The eye of a master wil do more work than his hand.
– Benjamin Franklin

Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thy self?
– Benjamin Franklin

Observe all men, thyself most.
– Benjamin Franklin

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
– Benjamin Franklin

Avoid dishonest gain: no price can recompense the pangs of vice.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that cannot obey, cannot command.
– Benjamin Franklin

Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.
– Benjamin Franklin

An undutiful daughter will prove an unmanageable wife.
– Benjamin Franklin

The sleeping fox catches no poultry. Up! Up!
– Benjamin Franklin

The same man cannot be both friend and flatterer.
– Benjamin Franklin

Remember that time is money.
– Benjamin Franklin

Plough deep while sluggards sleep and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.
– Benjamin Franklin

Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

There’s small revenge in words, but words may be greatly revenged.
– Benjamin Franklin

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find
you a better man.
– Benjamin Franklin

Industry, perseverance and frugality make fortune yield.
– 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

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
– Benjamin Franklin

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What’s a sun-dial in the shade?
– Benjamin Franklin

Setting too good an example is a kind of slander seldom forgiven.
– Benjamin Franklin

Fish and visitors smell in three days.
– Benjamin Franklin

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.
– Benjamin Franklin

When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Wink at small faults – remember you have great ones.
– Benjamin Franklin

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that have not wit enough to be honest.
– Benjamin Franklin

Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout.
– Benjamin Franklin

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
– Benjamin Franklin

Many have quarrel’d about religion that never practised it.
– Benjamin Franklin

A good wife lost, is God’s gift lost.
– Benjamin Franklin

You may delay, but time will not.
– Benjamin Franklin

A change of fortune hurts a wise man no more than a change of the moon.
– Benjamin Franklin

Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.
– Benjamin Franklin

Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself a slave to it.
– Benjamin Franklin

Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you’re going through hell, keep going.
– Benjamin Franklin

Many complain of their memory, few of their judgement.
– Benjamin Franklin

You may sometimes be much in the wrong in owning your being in the right.
– Benjamin Franklin

Meanness is the parent of insolence.
– Benjamin Franklin

Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you’d have a servant that you like, serve yourself.
– Benjamin Franklin

Wish not so much to live long, as to live well.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that won’t be counselled, can’t be helped.
– Benjamin Franklin

Approve not of him who commends all you say.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.
– Benjamin Franklin

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions.
Who is rich? He who is content. Who is that? Nobody.
– Benjamin Franklin

Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please.
– Benjamin Franklin

Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change
the face of the world.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that raises a large family does, indeed, while he lives to observe them, stand a broader
mark for sorrow; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtues.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

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

Serving God is doing good to man. But praying is thought an easier service and is therefore
more generally chosen.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

The discontented man finds no easy chair.
– Benjamin Franklin

Light purse, heavy heart.
– Benjamin Franklin

If man could have half his wishes he would double his troubles.
– Benjamin Franklin

Do good to your friend to keep him, to your enemy to gain him.
– Benjamin Franklin

Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines.
– Benjamin Franklin

He’s a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.
– Benjamin Franklin

Work as if you were to live 100 years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.
– Benjamin Franklin

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
– Benjamin Franklin

The rotten apple spoils his companion.
– Benjamin Franklin

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.
– Benjamin Franklin

Those who in quarrels interpose, must often wipe a bloody nose.
– Benjamin Franklin

Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason.
– Benjamin Franklin

Teach your child to hold his tongue, he’ll learn fast enough to speak.
– Benjamin Franklin

If thou would’st live long, live well; for folly and wickedness shorten life.
– Benjamin Franklin

He’s a fool that makes a doctor his heir.
– Benjamin Franklin

You may be too cunning for one, but not for all.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one makes you but even with him;
forgiving it sets you above him.
– Benjamin Franklin

Little strokes fell great oaks.
– Benjamin Franklin

A brother may not be a friend, but a friend will always be a brother.
– Benjamin Franklin

The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, is to save all the money they can touch.
– Benjamin Franklin

Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.
– Benjamin Franklin

Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended.
– Benjamin Franklin

To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.
– Benjamin Franklin

Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that buys by the penny, maintains not only himself, but other people.
– Benjamin Franklin

Great beauty, great strength, and great riches are really and truly of no great use;
a right heart exceeds all.
– Benjamin Franklin

All things are easy to industry, all things difficult to sloth.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that can have patience can have what he will.
– Benjamin Franklin

Promises may get you friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies.
– Benjamin Franklin

Where there is hunger, law is not regarded; and where law is not regarded, there will be
hunger.
– Benjamin Franklin

A true friend is the best possession.
– Benjamin Franklin

Avarice and happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?
– Benjamin Franklin

If you do what you should not, you must hear what you would not.
– Benjamin Franklin

What you would seem to be, be really.
– Benjamin Franklin

Most people return small favours, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with
ingratitude.
– Benjamin Franklin

What one relishes, nourishes.
– Benjamin Franklin

Would you live with ease, do what you ought, not what you please.
– Benjamin Franklin

What is more valuable than gold? Diamonds. Than diamonds? Virtue.
– Benjamin Franklin

Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a folly.
– Benjamin Franklin

He is a governor that governs his passions, and he a servant that serves them.
– Benjamin Franklin

Virtue may not always make a face handsome, but vice will certainly make it ugly.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you have time, don’t wait for time.
– Benjamin Franklin

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

Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
– Benjamin Franklin

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.
– Benjamin Franklin

The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
– Benjamin Franklin

Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.
– Benjamin Franklin

Tart words make no friends – a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of
vinegar.
– Benjamin Franklin

Clean your finger before you point at my spots.
– Benjamin Franklin

The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies than the fool from his friends.
– Benjamin Franklin

Kings and bears often worry their keepers.
– Benjamin Franklin

Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
– Benjamin Franklin

Be always ashamed to catch yourself idle.
– Benjamin Franklin

If you ride a horse, sit close and tight; if you ride a man, sit easy and light.
– Benjamin Franklin

You can bear your own faults, why not a fault in your wife?
– Benjamin Franklin

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

In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at top.
– Benjamin Franklin

He that has a trade, has an estate.
– Benjamin Franklin

Little rogues easily become great ones.
– Benjamin Franklin