Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

Industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect.

Mais dons ce monde, il n'y a rien d'assure que le mort et les impots.

If it were said that he who cannot deny himself anything he inclines to, though he knows it will be to his hurt, has not the virtue of resolution or fortitude, it would be intelligible enough; but, as it stands, it seems obscure or erroneous.

We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.'' - Benjamin Franklin

Industry. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,

O powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual favours to me.

I will freely spend nineteen shillings in the pound to defend my right of giving or refusing the other shilling.

Silence is golden

for, in walking thro' the Strand and Fleet-street one morning at seven o'clock, I observ'd there was not one shop open, tho' it had been daylight and the sun up above three hours; the inhabitants of London chusing voluntarily to live much by candle-light, and sleep by sunshine, and yet often complain, a little absurdly, of the duty on candles, and the high price of tallow.

It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.

nothing more bondage than too much liberty.

Wink at small faults; remember thou hast great ones.

Some to make themselves considerable pursue Learning, others grasp at Wealth, some aim at being thought witty, and others are only careful to make the most of an handsome Person; But what is Wit, or Wealth, or Form, or Learning when compar'd with Virtue? 'Tis true, we love the handsome, we applaud the Learned, and we fear the Rich and Powerful; but we even Worship and adore the Virtuous.

To be proud of Knowledge, is to be blind with Light.

Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.

Each year one vicious habit rooted out, In time might make the worst man good throughout.

sustained loss in matters which are indifferent, do not imagine this to be a damage. For it is a bad habit. But as the old man, when he went away, asked back his foster-child's top, remembering that it was a top, so do thou in this case also.

Success has ruin'd many a Man. Industry, Perseverance, & Frugality, make Fortune yield.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that have not wit enough to be honest.

He that speaks much is much mistaken.

Perhaps I was too saucy & provoking.

In free governments the rulers are the servants.

If what most men admire they would despise, It would look as if mankind were growing wise. He that would live in peace and ease Must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees.