Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“Never take a wife till thou hast a house (and a fire) to put her in.”

“He that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor.”

“That is simple. In the Colonies we issue our own money. It is called Colonial Scrip. We issue it in proper proportion to the demands of trade and industry to make the products pass easily from the producers to the consumers. In this manner creating for ourselves our own paper money, we control its purchasing power, and we have no interest to pay.”

“Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.”

“Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.”

“The absent are never without fault. Nor the present without excuse.”

“Every pot must sit on its own bottom.”

“Security without liberty is called prison.”

“Interest which blinds some People, enlightens others.”

“Laws without morals are in vain.”

“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.”

“Many dishes many diseases, Many medicines few cures.”

“Scarcely have I ever heard or read the introductory phrase, "I may say without vanity," but some striking and characteristic instance of vanity has immediately followed.”

“Leisure is the time for doing something useful.”

“We should make the poor uncomfortable and kick them out of poverty.”

“If you'd lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money.”

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”

“A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.”

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”

“Joy doesn't exist in the world, it exists in us.”

“If we can sleep without dreaming, it is well that painful dreams are avoided. If, while we sleep, we can have any pleasing dreams, it is as the French say, tant gagne, so much added to the pleasure of life.”

“He gives twice that gives soon, i.e., he will soon be called to give again.”

“No man ought to own more property than needed for his livelihood; the rest, by right, belonged to the state.”

“There are two ways of being happy: We must either diminish our wants or augment our means - either may do - the result is the same and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier.”

“If your head is made of wax, don't walk in the sun”