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’ major 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 principal documents of the new nation: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with Great Britain that ended the American Revolution, and the US 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 which 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.)
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Recommended Reading
- ‘Benjamin Franklin: An American Life‘ by Walter Isaacson
- ‘The Way to Wealth‘ by Benjamin Franklin
- ‘The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin‘ by Benjamin Franklin
- ‘The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin‘ by H.W. Brands
- ‘Ben Franklin’s Almanac of Wit, Wisdom, and Practical Advice‘ by The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Inspirational Quotations by Benjamin Franklin
Lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time
The things which hurt, instruct.
—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, Preparation, Planning
Beware of him that is slow to anger: He is angry for some thing, and will not be pleased for nothing.
—Benjamin Franklin
Don’t throw stones at your neighbours, if your own windows are glass.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that lives upon Hope, dies fasting.
—Benjamin Franklin
Haste makes waste.
—Benjamin Franklin
Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
—Benjamin Franklin
By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that sows thorns, should not go barefoot.
—Benjamin Franklin
A word to the wise is enough, and many words won’t fill a bushel.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Words
Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.
—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
If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun.
—Benjamin Franklin
Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad Habits.
—Benjamin Franklin
Hunger never saw bad bread.
—Benjamin Franklin
You cannot choose between party government and Parliamentary government. I say you can have no Parliamentary government if you have no party government; and therefore when gentlemen denounce party government, they strike at the scheme of government which, in my opinion, has made this country great, and which, I hope, will keep it great.
—Benjamin Franklin
Half the Truth is often a great Lie.
—Benjamin Franklin
To-morrow, every fault is to be amended; but that To-morrow never comes.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Tomorrow, The Future
What you seem to be, be really.
—Benjamin Franklin
Do not do what you would not have known.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Hope, One liners
Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Life, Nature
An empty bag will not stand upright.
—Benjamin Franklin
Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains. He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling followed, or neither the, estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. 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 idleness and neglect increase them.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Honor
The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.
—Benjamin Franklin
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
The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.
—Benjamin Franklin
He who waits upon fortune is never sure of dinner.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Procrastination
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
Never complain and never explain.
—Benjamin Franklin
Discussions should be conducted without fondness for dispute or desire for victory.
—Benjamin Franklin
Diligence overcomes Difficulties, Sloth makes them.
—Benjamin Franklin
In a progressive country change is constant; change is inevitable.
—Benjamin Franklin
A great Talker may be no Fool, but he is one that relies on him.
—Benjamin Franklin
If you desire many things, many things will seem but a few.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Gratitude, Blessings, Appreciation
Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Books, Literature, Reading
The Proud hate Pride — in others.
—Benjamin Franklin
How many observe Christ’s Birth-day! How few, his Precepts! O! ’tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.
—Benjamin Franklin
The Sting of a Reproach, is the Truth of it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Let thy child’s first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Children
Whate’er’s begun in anger ends in shame.
—Benjamin Franklin
If Man could have Half his Wishes, he would double his Troubles.
—Benjamin Franklin
Pay what you owe, and you’ll know what’s your own.
—Benjamin Franklin
When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and, being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure. This however was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.
—Benjamin Franklin
Well, Doctor, what have we gota Republic or a Monarchy?A Republic, if you can keep it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Fish & visitors stink in 3 days.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that’s content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much.
—Benjamin Franklin
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Education, Genius
When the Well’s dry, we know the Worth of Water.
—Benjamin Franklin
Necessity never made a good bargain.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Necessity
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Health
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
God helps them that help themselves.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Self-reliance
Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
—Benjamin Franklin
I believe in one God, Creator of the Universe in that He ought to be whipped from pilar to post and back again for His shameful actions toward Humanity.
—Benjamin Franklin
They that won’t be counselled, can’t be helped.
—Benjamin Franklin
That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved.
—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
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
Has not the famous political Fable of the Snake, with two Heads and one Body, some useful Instruction contained in it?. She was going to a Brook to drink, and in her Way was to pass thro a Hedge, a Twig of which opposed her direct Course; one Head chose to go on the right side of the Twig, the other on the left, so that time was spent in the Contest, and, before the Decision was completed, the poor Snake died with thirst.
—Benjamin Franklin
Hunger is the best pickle.
—Benjamin Franklin
I have always thought that every woman should marry, and no man.
—Benjamin Franklin
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time, Procrastination, Luck, The Present, Tomorrow, Present
Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Royalty, Flattery
Humility makes great men twice honourable.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Humility
If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time
To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Health
You have despoiled churches. You have threatened every corporation and endowment in the country. You have examined into everybodys affairs. You have criticised every profession and vexed every trade. No one is certain of his property, and nobody knows what duties he may have to perform to-morrow. This is the policy of confiscation as compared with that of concurrent endowment.
—Benjamin Franklin
Fools multiply folly.
—Benjamin Franklin
Human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time Management, Happiness, One Step at a Time, Value of Time
When confronted with two courses of action I jot down on a piece of paper all the arguments in favor of each one, then on the opposite side I write the arguments against each one. Then by weighing the arguments pro and con and cancelling them out, one against the other, I take the course indicated by what remains.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Action, Decisions
Books are fatal: they are the curse of the human race. Nine-tenths of existing books are nonsense, and the clever books are the refutation of that nonsense. The greatest misfortune that ever befell man was the invention of printing.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Books, Reading
Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.
—Benjamin Franklin
Better is a little with content than much with contention.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.
—Benjamin Franklin
Think of three Things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.
—Benjamin Franklin
He that can compose himself, is wiser than he that composes books.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Wisdom
If you’d know the Value of Money, go and borrow some.
—Benjamin Franklin
We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Cooperation
At present the peace of the world has been preserved, not by statesmen, but by capitalists.
—Benjamin Franklin
If you desire many things, many things will seem few.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: One liners, Desire, Desires
Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Knowledge
You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time Management, Time, Procrastination, Carpe-diem, One liners, Value of Time
Would you persuade, speak of Interest, not of Reason.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Encouragement, Example
He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.
—Benjamin Franklin
No gains without pains.
—Benjamin Franklin
Better slip with foot than tongue.
—Benjamin Franklin
Distrust & caution are the parents of security.
—Benjamin Franklin
An ounce of wit that is bought, is worth a pound that is taught.
—Benjamin Franklin
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Enemies
Dr. Franklin was for retaining the clause on impeachment, as favorable to the executive. History furnishes one example only of a first magistrate being formally brought to public justice. Every body cried out against this as unconstitutional. What was the practice before this, in cases where the chief magistrate rendered himself obnoxious? Why, recourse was had to assassination, in which he was not only deprived of his life, but of the opportunity of vindicating his character. It would be the best way, therefore, to provide in the Constitution for the regular punishment of the executive, where his misconduct should deserve it, and for his honorable acquittal, where he should be unjustly accused.
—Benjamin Franklin
You may give a Man an Office, but you cannot give him Discretion.
—Benjamin Franklin
The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
—Benjamin Franklin
Happiness consists more in the small conveniences of 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
Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Fashion
Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Wealth, Riches
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Poverty
Love, and be loved.
—Benjamin Franklin
I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole!
—Benjamin Franklin
To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.
—Benjamin Franklin
There are lazy Minds as well as lazy Bodies.
—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
Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Fools, Experience
Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure is time for doing something useful, and this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never, for a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time, Leisure
Speak little, do much.
—Benjamin Franklin
Rich widows are the only secondhand goods that sell at first-class prices.
—Benjamin Franklin
Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Leaders, Leadership
Whilst the last members were signing the Constitution, Doctor Franklin, looking towards the Presidents chair, at the back of which a rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him, that painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art, a rising, from a setting, sun. I have, said he, often and often, in the course of the session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to its issue, looked at that behind the President, without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting; but now at length, I have the happiness to know, that it is a rising, and not a setting sun.
—Benjamin Franklin
Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Health
Approve not of him who commends all you say.
—Benjamin Franklin
When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Gratitude
If we do not hang together, we will all hang separately.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Cooperation
When you’re good to others, you are best to yourself.
—Benjamin Franklin
If time be of all things most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time Management, Value of Time
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Persistence, Luck, One liners
Observe all men; thy self most.
—Benjamin Franklin
They who have nothing to be troubled at, will be troubled at nothing.
—Benjamin Franklin
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time Management, Time, Action, Life, Love, Idleness, Value of Time
Wish not so much to live long as to live well.
—Benjamin Franklin
The world is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the affairs of his neighbor.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Fools, Hypocrisy
Reading makes a full Man, Meditation a profound Man,
discourse a clear Man.
—Benjamin Franklin
The Wolf sheds his Coat once a Year, his Disposition never.
—Benjamin Franklin
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all things easy. — He that rises late must trot all day, and hall scarce overtake his business at night, while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Poverty, Idleness
Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Anger
Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thy self?
—Benjamin Franklin
Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Money, Thrift, Shopping
He’s a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.
—Benjamin Franklin
A plural Legislature is as necessary to good Government as a single Executive. It is not enough that your Legislature should be numerous; it should also be divided. Numbers alone are not a sufficient Barrier against the Impulses of Passion, the Combinations of Interest, the Intrigues of Faction, the Haste of Folly, or the Spirit of Encroachment. One Division should watch over and controul the other, supply its Wants, correct its Blunders, and cross its Designs, should they be criminal or erroneous. Wisdom is the specific Quality of the Legislature, grows out of the Number of the Body, and is made up of the Portions of Sense and Knowledge which each Member brings to it.
—Benjamin Franklin
If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.
—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 quarrelsome Man has no good Neighbors.
—Benjamin Franklin
Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.
—Benjamin Franklin
A Temper to bear much, will have much to bear.
—Benjamin Franklin
Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep; And you shall have Corn, to sell and to keep.
—Benjamin Franklin
Tell a miser he’s rich, and a woman she’s old, you’ll get no money of one, nor kindness of t’other.
—Benjamin Franklin
Virtue may not always make a Face handsome, but Vice will certainly make it ugly.
—Benjamin Franklin
I am a Conservative to preserve all that is good in our constitution, a Radical to remove all that is bad. I seek to preserve property and to respect order, and I equally decry the appeal to the passions of the many or the prejudices of the few.
—Benjamin Franklin
Think twice before you speak, or act once, and you will speak or act the more wisely for it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Reflection
Be neither silly, nor cunning, but wise.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Intelligence
Well done is better than well said.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Action, Procrastination, Getting Going, Inaction, Doing, Doing Your Best, Accomplishment, Communication, Example
The praise of a fool is incense to the wisest of us.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Praise
Have you somewhat to do tomorrow; do it today.
—Benjamin Franklin
The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence.
—Benjamin Franklin
Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then shou’d they become acquainted.
—Benjamin Franklin
What signifies your Patience, if you can’t find it when you want it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
—Benjamin Franklin
Whate’er’s begun in anger ends in shame.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Anger
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
In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.
—Benjamin Franklin
The secret to success is constancy to purpose.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Purpose, One liners
Want of Care does us more Damage than Want of Knowledge.
—Benjamin Franklin
Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Poverty, Luxury
Tell me my Faults, and mend your own. Men take more pains to mask than mend.
—Benjamin Franklin
Fear to do ill, and you need fear naught else.
—Benjamin Franklin
Sin is not harmful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it is hurtful.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Sin
Fools make feasts and wise men eat ’em.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Eating
Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly.
—Benjamin Franklin
For nearly five years the present Ministers have harassed every trade, worried every profession, and assailed or menaced every class, institution, and species of property in the country. Occasionally they have varied this state of civil warfare by perpetrating some job which outraged public opinion, or by stumbling into mistakes which have been always discreditable, and sometimes ruinous. All this they call a policy, and seem quite proud of it; but the country has, I think, made up its mind to close this career of plundering and blundering.
—Benjamin Franklin
Be slow in chusing a Friend, slower in changing.
—Benjamin Franklin
The noblest question in the world is, What Good may I do in it?
—Benjamin Franklin
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