Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“[Benjamin Franklin]identified thirteen virtues he wanted to cultivate--temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility--and made a chart with those virtues plotted against the days of the week. Each day, Franklin would score himself on whether he practiced those thirteen virtues.”

“A friend in need is a friend indeed!”

“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”

“Speak little, do much.”

“Women are books, and men the readers be...”

“Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that.”

“He that’s content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much.”

“Wise Men learn by other’s harms; Fools by their own.”

“Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.”

“There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.”

“Lost Time is never found again.”

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.”

“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”

“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”

“Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.”

“If dost thou love life, then Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of, as Poor Richard says.”

“I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he forms a good plan, and then makes the execution of that plan his sole study and business.”

“Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore.”

“Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands;”

“One today is worth two tomorrows,”

“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. Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he can, will certainly become rich.”

“Industry need not wish, and he who lives upon hope will die fasting. There are no gains without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands”

“We may make these times better, if we better ourselves.”