Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

Let thy discontents be thy secrets

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.

Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones

All would live long, but none would be old.

Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore.

Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.

He's a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.

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

But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, their hand is mended by the endevour, and is tolerable while it continues fair and legible

He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.

If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

Do not fear mistakes.

Perhaps I'm too saucy or provoking?

Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.

Half a truth is often a great lie

He was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages; so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

I know not which lives more unnatural lives, obeying husbands, or commanding wives.

There are three kinds of people: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those who move.

He that cannot obey cannot command.

Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.

He that lives upon hope will die farting.