Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

There cannot be good living where there is not good drinking.

He that drinks fast, pays slow. Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. There can't be good living where there is not good drinking.

Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us.

There is no such thing as a good war or a bad peace.

Do well by doing good.

Vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful.

The good will of the governed will be starved if not fed by the good deeds of the governors.

Would thou confound thy enemy, be good thyself.

Great good nature without prudence is a great misfortune.

In free governments the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors and sovereigns.

I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about 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.

Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride and folly than we are taxed by government.

I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.

Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.

Little minds think and talk about people. Average minds think and talk about things and actions. Great minds think and talk about ideas.

In success be moderate. Humility makes great men twice honourable.

Tis a great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him his.

There have been as great souls unknown to fame as any of the most famous.

Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.

If you would not be laughed at, be the first to laugh at yourself.

It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow.

By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.

Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?