Benjamin Franklin Quotes

In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.[misquote of a letter about wine, see quotes/831031]

~ Benjamin Franklin

He that lives upon hope will die farting.

~ Benjamin Franklin

The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

~ Benjamin Franklin

To all apparent beauties blind, each blemish strikes an envious mind.

~ Benjamin Franklin

A man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all the doctrines he holds are true, and all he rejects are false.

~ Benjamin Franklin

[I retained] only the Habit of expressing my self in Terms of modest Diffidence, never using when I advance any thing that may possibly be disputed, the Words 'Certainly, 'undoubtedly', or any others that I give the Air of Positiveness to an Opinion; but rather say 'I conceive', or 'I apprehend a Thing to be so or so', 'It appears to me', or 'I should think it so or so for such & such Reasons', or 'I imagine' it to be so or so, or 'it is so' if I am not mistaken.—This Habit I believe has been of great Advantage to me, when I have had occasion to inculcate my Opinions and persuade Men into Measures that I have been from time to time engag'd in promoting.—And as the chief Ends of Conversation are to inform, or to be informed, to please or to persuade, I wish well meaning sensible Men would not lessen their Power of doing Good by a Positive assuming Manner that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create Opposition, and to defeat every one of those purposes for which Speech was given to us, to wit, giving or receiving Information or Pleasure: For if you would inform, a positive dogmatical Manner in advancing your Sentiments, may provoke Contradiction & prevent a candid Attention.

~ Benjamin Franklin

All would live long but none would be old.

~ Benjamin Franklin

If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead either write things worth reading or do things worth writing.

~ Benjamin Franklin

A child thinks twenty shillings and twenty years can scarce ever be spent.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Perform without fail what you resolve.

~ Benjamin Franklin

He that can have patience can have what he will.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Genius is nothing but a greater aptitude for patience.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Early to bed and early to rise Makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.

~ Benjamin Franklin

The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of Reason.

~ Benjamin Franklin

The greatest monarch on the proudest throne is obliged to sit upon his own arse.

~ Benjamin Franklin

There are three faithful friends: an old wife an old dog and ready money.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Well done is better than well said.

~ Benjamin Franklin

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

~ Benjamin Franklin

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.

~ Benjamin Franklin

God heals and the doctor takes the fees.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Nothing is more fatal to health than an overcare of it.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Lost time is never found again.

~ Benjamin Franklin

You may delay but time will not.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Does't thou love life? Then do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of.

~ Benjamin Franklin

If time be of all things most precious wasting time must be the greatest prodigality since lost time is never found again.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Happiness is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Follow your bliss. -Joseph Campbell Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Praise to the undeserving is severe satire.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.

~ Benjamin Franklin

There is a difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.

~ Benjamin Franklin

He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

~ Benjamin Franklin

If you would have a faithful servant and one that you like serve yourself.

~ Benjamin Franklin

If you want a thing done go if not send.

~ Benjamin Franklin

The U.S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Would you persuade speak of interest not of reason.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech; which is the Right of every Man, as far as by it, he does not hurt or controul the Right of another: And this is the only Check it ought to suffer, and the only Bounds it ought to know.

~ Benjamin Franklin

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

~ Benjamin Franklin

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

~ Benjamin Franklin

We are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every man among us reads, and is so easy in his circumstances as to have leisure for conversations of improvement and for acquiring information.

~ Benjamin Franklin