Top 1425 Quotes & Sayings by Benjamin Franklin - Page 21

Those who prefer security to liberty deserve neither.

I say it is impossible that so sensible a people [citizens of Paris], under such circumstances, should have lived so long by the smoky, unwholesome, and enormously expensive light of candles, if they had really known that they might have had as much pure light of the sun for nothing.

The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions, for life is a kind of chess.

Wealth and Content are not always Bed-fellows.

Time eateth all things, could old poets say, The times are chang'd, our times drink all away.

That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary for the well ordering and well-being of Society, and accordingly have been ever careful to encourage and protect the Ministers of it, paying them the highest publick Honours, that their Doctrines might thereby meet with the greater Respect among the common People.

Time Like a petal in the wind Flows softly by As old lives are taken New ones begin A continual chain Which lasts throughout eternity Every life but a minute in time But each of equal importance

Never praise your cider or your horse

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

Many would live by their Wits, but break for want of Stock.

Fish & Visitors stink in 3 days.

He that won't be counseled can't be helped. He that would have a short Lent, let him borrow Money to be repaid at Easter.

Twas Noah who first planted the vine And mended his morals by drinking its wine.

Onions can make even Heirs and Widows weep.

A man is not completely born until he is dead.

In a discreet man's mouth, a public thing is private.

He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

Love and toothache have many cures, but none infallible, except possession and dispossession.

I am what I am and that's all that I am and if I'm supposed to be somebody else, why do I look like me?

It is very imprudent to deprive America of any of her privileges. If her commerce and friendship are of any importance to you, they are to be had on no other terms than leaving her in the full enjoyment of her rights.

All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones. In my opinion, there never was a good war or a bad peace. When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?

Take courage, Mortal... Death cannot banish you from the Universe.

Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter, wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others who are within his sphere of action: and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life.

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

Never contradict anybody.

When I see nothing annihilated, and not even a drop of water wasted, I cannot suspect the annihilation of souls Thus finding myself to exist in the world, I believe I shall, in some shape or other, always exist; with all the inconveniences human life is liable to, I shall not object to a new edition of mine; hoping, however, that the errata of the last may be corrected.

A dying man can do nothing easy.

Tis a well spent penny that saves a groat.

The English love an insult. It's their only test of a man's sincerity.

A little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts.

Pride gets into the Coach, and Shame mounts behind.

What is a butterfly? At best He's but a caterpiller drest. The gaudy Fop's his picture just.

A friend in need is a friend indeed!

Epitaph on a scolding wife by her husband: Here my poor Bridget's corpse doth lie, she is at rest - and so am I!

Mary's mouth cost her nothing for she never opens it but at others' expense.

Pity and forbearance should characterize all acts of justice.

When about 16 Years of Age, I happened to meet with a Book written by one Tryon, recommending a Vegetable Diet. I determined to go into it.... My refusing to eat Flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity.

It might be judged an affront to your understanding should I go about to prove this first principle; the existence of a Diety and that He is the Creator of the universe, for that would suppose you ignorant of what all mankind in all ages have agreed in.

People want to catch a buzz. That is why drugs are illegal, yet people still try to get their hands on them no matter what the consequence. Drugs make us happy, they may not be healthy.

It is easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel.

Virtues, of ... Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot.

The pleasures of this world are rather from God's goodness than our own merit.

By the word simplicity, is not always meant folly or ignorance; but often, pure and upright Nature, free from artifice, craft or deceitful ornament.

On second thought, it's a good thing love is blind otherwise it would see too much.

O Lazy bones! Dost thou think God would have given thee arms and legs, if he had not design'd thou should'st use them?

The importation of foreigners into a country that has as many inhabitants as the present employments and provisions for subsistence will bear, will be in the end no increase of people, unless the new comers have more industry and frugality than the natives, and then they will provide more subsistence, and increase in the country; but they will gradually eat the natives out. Nor is it necessary to bring in foreigners to fill up any occasional vacancy in a country for such vacancy will soon be filled by natural generation.

Covetousness is ever attended with solicitude and anxiety.

If you want to be rich, think of the savings and get them.

It is the duty of mankind on all suitable occasions to acknowledge their dependence on the Divine Being.

The greatest inventions are those inquiries which tend to increase the power of man over matter.

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.

What one relishes, nourishes.

Life is a kind of chess.

Knowledge of the investment is most profitable

What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.

Often I sit up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the morning, lest it should be missed or wanted.

Speak and speed: the close mouth catches no flies.

Necessity is our quickest excuse.

You have two choices, write about something of significance or do something someone wants to write about.