Benjamin Franklin Quotes

510 Sourced Quotes

Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.

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

Benjamin Franklin
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes!

Benjamin Franklin
If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, at the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Benjamin Franklin
In free governments the rulers are the servants and the people are their superiors and sovereigns.

Benjamin Franklin
It is prodigious the quantity of good that may be done by one man if he will make a business of it.

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

Benjamin Franklin
History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischiefs of superstition, and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern.

Benjamin Franklin
A man is sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

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
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
The poor have little; beggars, none; the rich, too much; enough, not one.

Benjamin Franklin
I made the greater progress, from that clearness of head and quicker apprehension which generally attend temperance in eating and drinking.

Benjamin Franklin
Silence - Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

Benjamin Franklin
Neither a Fortress nor a Maidenhead will hold out long after they begin to parley.

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 to a man in the course of his life.

Benjamin Franklin
Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old Inhabitants are not jealous of them; the Laws protect them sufficiently so that they have no need of the Patronage of great Men; and every one will enjoy securely the Profits of his Industry. But if he does not bring a Fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to live.

Benjamin Franklin
That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary for the well ordering and well-being of Society, and accordingly have been ever careful to encourage and protect the Ministers of it, paying them the highest publick Honours, that their Doctrines might thereby meet with the greater Respect among the common People.

Benjamin Franklin
I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody.

Benjamin Franklin