Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.

Remember that credit is money.

Admiration is the daughter of ignorance.

It is the eye of other people that ruin us. If I were blind I would want, neither fine clothes, fine houses or fine furniture.

He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees.

If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.

Nine men in ten are would be suicides.

Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.

He that would travel much, should eat little.

Dangerous, therefore, is it to take shelter under a tree, during a thunder-gust. It has been fatal to many, both men and beasts.

Trusting too much to others care is the ruin of many.

There is none deceived but he that trusts.

Love, Cough, & a Smoke, can't well be hid.

Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others?

Love of country is the Mason's deed; world citizenship is his thought.

How can any Action be meritorious of Praise or Dispraise, Reward or Punishment, when the natural Principle of Self-Love is the only and the irresistible Motive to it?

I have never entered into any controversy in defense of my philosophical opinions; I leave them to take their chance in the world. If they are right, truth and experience will support them; if wrong, they ought to be refuted and rejected. Disputes are apt to sour one's temper and disturb one's quiet.

Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.

A child thinks 20 shillings and 20 years can scarce ever be spent.

My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. I was put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church.

When Wine enters, out goes the Truth.

Truth and sincerity have a certain distinguishing native lustre about them which cannot be perfectly counterfeited; they are like fire and flame, that cannot be painted.

The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it.

A little sturdiness when superiors are much in the wrong sometimes occasions consideration. And there is truth in the old saying that if you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you.