Benjamin Franklin
American statesman, printer, scientist and writer, 1706-1790
99 quotes.
Quotes by Benjamin Franklin
- He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.
- He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
- He that won’t be counsell’d, can’t be help’d.
- He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.
- Human Felicity is produc'd not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day.
- I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth; but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of every body.
- If a man empties his purse into his head no man can take it from him. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
- If Passion drives, let Reason hold the Reins.
- If you have time don't wait for time.
- If you know how to spend less than you get you have the philosopher's stone.
- If you would be loved, love and be lovable.
- If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.
- If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.
- If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.
- In my opinion, we might all draw more good from it than we do, and suffer less evil, if we would but take care not to give too much for whistles.
- In reality, there is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, stifle it, mortify it as much as you please, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself.
- In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality; that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both.
- Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.
- It is easy to see, hard to foresee.
- Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.
- Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as poor Richard says, a life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things.
- Let every one ascertain his special business or calling, and then stick to it, if he would be successful.
- Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.
- Lost time is never found again.
- Love your enemies; for they shall tell you all your faults.
- Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day.
- No man e’er was glorious, who was not laborious.
- None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.
- One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
- One vicious habit each year rooted out, in time might make the worst man good.
- Plough deep while sluggards sleep.
- Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
- Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy.
- Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.
- Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.
- Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright.
- Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy.
- Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
- Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, money in the purse, credit in the country, contentment in the house, clothes on the back, and vigour in the body.