Benjamin Franklin Quotes

510 Sourced Quotes

The cause of the South was the cause of constitutional government, the cause of government regulated by law, and the cause of honesty and fidelity in public servants. No nobler cause did man ever fight for!

Benjamin Franklin
He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

Benjamin Franklin
I have sometimes almost wished it had been my destiny to be born two or three centuries hence.

Benjamin Franklin
Mathematics originally signifies any kind of discipline or learning, but now it is taken for that science which teaches or contemplates whatever is capable of being numbered or measured.

Benjamin Franklin
What science can there be more noble, more excellent, more useful for men, more admirably high and demonstrative, than this of the mathematics?

Benjamin Franklin
The madness of mobs or the insolence of soldiers, or both, when too near to each other, occasion some mischief.

Benjamin Franklin
Visit your Aunt, but not every Day; and call at your Brother's, but not every night.

Benjamin Franklin
All philosophical Experiments that let Light into the Nature of Things, tend to increase the Power of Man over Matter, and multiply the Conveniences of Pleasure of Life.

Benjamin Franklin
Hast thou virtue? acquire also the graces and beauties of virtue.

Benjamin Franklin
Prodigality of Time produces Poverty of Mind as well as of Estate.

Benjamin Franklin
A temperate Diet frees from Diseases; such are seldom ill, but if they are surprised with Sickness, they bear it better, and recover sooner; for most Distempers have their Original from Repletion.

Benjamin Franklin
Evil, as evil, can never be chosen; and though evil is often the effect of our own choice, yet we never desire it but under the appearance of an imaginary good.

Benjamin Franklin
Men differ daily about things which are subject to sense, is it likely then they should agree about things invisible.

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

Benjamin Franklin
Women are books, and men the readers be, Who sometimes in those books erratas see; Yet oft the reader's raptured with each line, Fair print and paper, fraught with sense divine; Tho' some, neglectful, seldom care to read, And faithful wives no more than bibles heed. Are women books? says Hodge, then would mine were An Almanack, to change her every year.

Benjamin Franklin
Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.

Benjamin Franklin
Let thy discontents be thy secrets; if the world knows them 'twill despise thee and increase them.

Benjamin Franklin
Disdain the chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free.

Benjamin Franklin
O Lazy bones! Dost thou think God would have given thee arms and legs, if he had not design'd thou should'st use them?

Benjamin Franklin
That the vegetable creation should restore the air which is spoiled by the animal part of it, looks like a rational system, and seems to be of a piece with the rest.

Benjamin Franklin
I believe that Man is not the most perfect Being but One, rather that as there are many Degrees of Beings his Inferiors, so there are many Degrees of Beings superior to him.

Benjamin Franklin
Suspicion may be no fault, but showing it may be a great one.

Benjamin Franklin
The busy man has few idle visitors; to the boiling pot the flies come not.

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

Benjamin Franklin
Let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be happy, that I may please Him, who is delighted to see me happy. Amen.

Benjamin Franklin
Keep out of the Sight of Feasts and Banquets as much as may be; for 'tis more difficult to refrain good Cheer, when it's present, than from the Desire of it when it is away; the like you may observe in the Objects of all the other Senses.

Benjamin Franklin
My father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity, most of which I read, and have since often regretted that, at a time when I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books had not fallen in my way since it was now resolved I should not be a clergyman.

Benjamin Franklin
Content and Riches seldom meet together, Riches take thou, contentment I had rather.

Benjamin Franklin
Don't go to the doctor with every distemper, nor to the lawyer with every quarrel, nor to the pot for every thirst.

Benjamin Franklin
In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise, The greatest may fall, and the lowest may rise: But insolent People that fall in disgrace, Are wretched and nobody pities their Case.

Benjamin Franklin