Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security.

Si no quieres perderte en el olvido tan pronto como estés muerto, escribe cosas dignas de leerse, o haz cosas dignas de escribirse.

Conduct is more convincing than language,

for, even if I could conceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.

Convertí en regla evitar toda contradicción directa con respecto a los sentimientos de otros, y toda afirmación tajante de los míos.

the rapid progress true Science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon

If you would be loved, love, and be lovable

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

free men, whose minds were properly on their business, found a satisfaction in improving, cultivating, and providing for their families; but negroes, laboring to support others who claim them as their property, and expecting nothing but slavery during life, had not the like inducement to be industrious.

Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.

From my example, a great part of them left their muddling breakfast of beer, and bread, and cheese, finding they could with me be supplied from a neighboring house with a large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumbed with bread, and a bit of butter in it, for the price of a pint of beer, viz., three half-pence. This was a more comfortable as well as cheaper breakfast, and keep their heads clearer.

I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.

Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion

the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute or desire of victory; and, to prevent warmth, all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction,

Where there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

the prophets repeatedly declare "that the son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, but every one be answerable for his own sins.

sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.' Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never;

For age and want save while you may; No morning sun lasts a whole day. If you would not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading Or do things worth writing.

The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands';

element that makes the record real and brings the story

Doth nought return-- Only a spear and sword, and ashes in an urn! For Ares, lord of strife, Who doth the swaying scales of battle hold, War's money-changer, giving dust for gold, Sends back, to hearts that held them dear, Scant ash of warriors, wept with many a tear, Light to the hand, but heavy to the soul; Yea, fills the light urn full With what survived the flame-- Death's dusty measure of a hero's frame!

Kings have long arms, but Misfortune longer, Let none think themselves out of her reach.

Lend money to an enemy and you will gain him, to a friend and you will lose him.

But Providence will bring about its own ends by its own means; and if it intends the downfall of a nation, that nation will be so blinded by its pride and other passions as not to see its danger, or how its fall may be prevented.