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Inspirational Quotations

by RightAttitudes.com

Inspirational Quotes by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Inspirational Quotations by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) was an American statesman, inventor, diplomat, writer, and scientist. This leading figure in the American struggle for independence was one of the most versatile and talented men in colonial America.

Born in Boston, Franklin apprenticed to his brother, a printer, and began writing anonymously for his brother’s newspaper. He moved to Philadelphia, then to London, and returned to Philadelphia and established himself as a printer. He bought the Pennsylvania Gazette and turned it into one of the American colonies’ significant newspapers. He also wrote and published Poor Richard’s Almanack, an astronomy journal, under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. The Almanack became well known for the witty proverbs and maxims that Franklin included as fillers.

A leading delegate to the Continental Congress, Franklin became its architect. He was the only individual to sign all the three key documents of the new nation: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with Great Britain that ended the American Revolution, and the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin held various government posts, including that of the deputy paymaster general of the colonies, and emissary to France and Great Britain. Franklin was also involved in many public projects, including founding the American Philosophical Society, a subscription library, and, in 1751, an academy that later became the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin’s foremost scientific achievements were the formulation of a theory of electricity, which introduced positive and negative electricity, the demonstration of the electrical nature of lightning. His primary inventions were the lightning conductor, the “Franklin stove” (a kind of freestanding cast-iron heater,) and bifocal spectacles.

Franklin was legendary for his lifelong quest for self-improvement, as he thoroughly documented in his Autobiography (1791.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Benjamin Franklin

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Inspirational Quotes by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Well, Doctor, what have we gota Republic or a Monarchy?A Republic, if you can keep it.
—Benjamin Franklin

When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Gratitude

Then there was a maiden speech, so inaudible, that it was doubted whether, after all, the young orator really did lose his virginity.
—Benjamin Franklin

Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day by his labor, and goes abroad or sits idle one half of that day, though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown away, five shillings besides.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time

When friends are in trouble, don’t bother them by asking if there is anything you can do. Think of something appropriate and do it.
—Benjamin Franklin

Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Communication, Doing Your Best, Doing, Accomplishment, Procrastination, Action, Example, Inaction, Getting Going

A Temper to bear much, will have much to bear.
—Benjamin Franklin

I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
—Benjamin Franklin

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

The things which hurt, instruct.
—Benjamin Franklin

The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Praise

Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.
—Benjamin Franklin

If we do not hang together, we will all hang separately.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Cooperation

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

By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.
—Benjamin Franklin

An empty bag will not stand upright.
—Benjamin Franklin

They that won’t be counselled, can’t be helped.
—Benjamin Franklin

Work as if you were to live 100 years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Prayer

A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Tact

I was told, continued Egremont, that an impassable gulf divided the Rich from the Poor; I was told that the Privileged and the People formed Two Nations, governed by different laws, influenced by different manners, with no thoughts or sympathies in common; with an innate inability of mutual comprehension.
—Benjamin Franklin

Fish & visitors stink in 3 days.
—Benjamin Franklin

The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance and continual reasonings with each other is, methinks, a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the human understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of government, and examined the different forms of those republics which, having been formed with seeds of their own dissolution, now no longer exist.
—Benjamin Franklin

God helps them that help themselves.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Self-reliance

Haste makes waste.
—Benjamin Franklin

He’s a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.
—Benjamin Franklin

A little neglect may breed great mischief. For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; and for want of a horse, the rider was lost; being overtaken, and slain by the enemy. All for want of care about a horse-shoe nail.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: One Step at a Time, Planning, Preparation

He that lives upon Hope, dies fasting.
—Benjamin Franklin

Discussions should be conducted without fondness for dispute or desire for victory.
—Benjamin Franklin

If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun.
—Benjamin Franklin

Speak little, do much.
—Benjamin Franklin

Want of Care does us more Damage than Want of Knowledge.
—Benjamin Franklin

Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Flattery, Royalty

Whate’er’s begun in anger ends in shame.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Anger

You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time, Value of Time, Procrastination, Time Management, One liners, Carpe-diem

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Wealth, Riches

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

Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly.
—Benjamin Franklin

The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence.
—Benjamin Franklin

Have you somewhat to do tomorrow; do it today.
—Benjamin Franklin

If you do not want to be forgotten, when you are dead and rotting, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.
—Benjamin Franklin

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