Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“What is a butterfly? At bestHe's but a caterpiller drest.The gaudy Fop's his picture just.”

“I think that a young state, like a young virgin, should modestly stay at home, and wait the application of suitors for an alliance with her; and not run about offering her amity to all the world; and hazarding their refusal. Our virgin is a jolly one; and tho at present not very rich, will in time be a great fortune, and where she has a favorable predisposition, it seems to me well worth cultivating.”

“If it were not for the Belly, the Back might wear Gold.”

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

“Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.”

“A man can be beautiful physically, mentally, or personality wise. True beauty, though, is in the spirit. A genuine man who understands right and wrong, with a strong sense of self is beautiful. A man who can be compassionate and caring, but firm and wise. Someone who can do the right thing no matter who's around to see it. Even if the deed is unseen and unrecognized. That is a beautiful man. One today is worth two tomorrows.”

“E'er you remark another's sin, bid your own conscience look within.”

“The world is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the affairs, of his neighbor.”

“Death takes no bribes.”

“If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix'd in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error.”

“A [desire] to abolish slavery prevails in North America, many of the Pennsylvanians have set their slaves at liberty, and [Virginia legislators] have petitioned the King for permission to make a law for preventing the importation of more [slaves] into that colony. This request, however, will probably not be granted, as their former laws of that kind have always been repealed.”

“There's many witty men whose brains can't fill their bellies.”

“Hunger never saw bad bread.”

“Many complain of their memory, few of their judgment.”

“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.”

“Wherever desirable superfluities are imported, industry is excited, and thereby plenty is produced. Were only necessaries permitted to be purchased, men would work no more than was necessary for that purpose.”

“Look round the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!”

“Necessity knows no law; I know some attorneys of the same.”

“Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.”

“If you want to be loved, love and be loveable.”

“Praise little, dispraise less.”

“The good or ill hap of a good or ill life, is the good or ill choice of a good or ill wife.”

“A little neglect may breed great mischief. ... For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; for want of a horse, the battle was lost; for want of the battle, the war was lost.”

“Sloth and Silence are a Fool's Virtues”

“It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”