Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

The foundation of all happiness in thinking rightly.

Reader, I wish thee Health, Wealth, Happiness, And may kind Heaven thy Year's Industry bless.

The punishment of murder by death is contrary to reason, and to the order and happiness of society, and contrary to divine revelation.

Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom.

Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.

Be not sick too late, nor well too soon

Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy.

We are not so sensible of the greatest Health as of the least Sickness.

Hot things, sharp things, sweet things, cold things All rot the teeth, and make them look like old things.

The apostle Paul very seriously advised Timothy to put some wine in his water for health's sake, but not one of the apostles nor any of the holy fathers have ever recommended putting water in wine

The best way to help the poor is to make them uncomfortable in their own poverty.

You and I were long friends: you are now my enemy, and I am yours.

Indeed the general natural Tendency of Reading good History, must be, to fix in the Minds of Youth deep Impressions of the Beauty and Usefulness of Virtue of all Kinds, Publick Spirit, Fortitude.

Historians relate not so much what is done as what they would have believed.

I'd rather be a pessimist because then I can only be pleasantly surprised.

God works wonders now and then; Behold a lawyer, an honest man.

'tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.

Do not, however, mistake me. It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.

Avoid dishonest gain: no price can recompence the pangs of vice.

Dally not with other folk's spouses or money.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that don't have brains enough to be honest.

He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath a place of profit and honor. A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.

Since I cannot govern my own tongue, though within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongue of others?

Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes, lest they lead you a weary Dance after them.