Benjamin Franklin Quotes

510 Sourced Quotes

Lawyers, Preachers, and Tomtits Eggs, there are more of them hatch'd than come to perfection.

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
Nor is it of much Importance to us to know the Manner in which Nature executes her laws; 'tis enough to know the Laws themselves.

Benjamin Franklin
A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.

Benjamin Franklin
At the workingman's house hunger looks in but dares not enter.

Benjamin Franklin
Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily cracked, and never well mended.

Benjamin Franklin
I've 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 the House they labor in vain who 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: 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.

Benjamin Franklin
God works wonders now and then; Behold a lawyer, an honest man.

Benjamin Franklin
He that sells upon Credit expects to lose 5 per Cent. By bad Debts; therefore he charges, on all he sells upon Credit, an Advance that shall make up that Deficiency.

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

Benjamin Franklin
The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.

Benjamin Franklin
In short, I conceive that a great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.

Benjamin Franklin
And as to the Cares, they are chiefly what attend the bringing up of Children; and I would ask any Man who has experienced it, if they are not the most delightful Cares in the World; and if from that Particular alone, he does not find the Bliss of a double State much greater, instead of being less than he expected.

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

Benjamin Franklin
I look upon death to be as necessary to our constitution as sleep. We shall rise refreshed in the morning.

Benjamin Franklin
Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least you will, by such conduct, stand the be.

Benjamin Franklin
[New Jersey is like] a beer barrel, tapped at both ends, with all the live beer running into Philadelphia and New York.

Benjamin Franklin
A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.

Benjamin Franklin
Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

Benjamin Franklin
The things of this world take up too much of my time, of which indeed I have too little left, to undertake anything like a reformation in religion.

Benjamin Franklin
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

Benjamin Franklin
Idleness and Pride Tax with a heavier Hand than Kings and Parliaments; If we can get rid of the former we may easily bear the Latter.

Benjamin Franklin
I believe long habits of virtue have a sensible effect on the countenance.

Benjamin Franklin
But our great security lies, I think, in our growing strength, both in numbers and wealth; … unless, by a neglect of military discipline, we should lose all martial spirit …; for there is much truth in the Italian saying, Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you.

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

Benjamin Franklin