Benjamin Franklin Quotes

510 Sourced Quotes

If all but myself were blind, I should want neither a fine house nor fine furniture.

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

Benjamin Franklin
If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to the other world?

Benjamin Franklin
A greater Quantity of some things may be eaten than of others, some being of lighter Digestion than others.

Benjamin Franklin
It is observable that God has often called men to places of dignity and honor when they have been busy in the honest employment of their vocation.

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

Benjamin Franklin
He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

Benjamin Franklin
What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.

Benjamin Franklin
Evils come not, then our fears are vain; And if they do fear but augments the pain.

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

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

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

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

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
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