Benjamin Franklin Quotes: 47 Verified Sayings
Benjamin Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack every year from 1732 to 1758, and half the proverbs Americans repeat trace back to it. The 50 quotes below come from the Almanack, The Way to Wealth (1758), his Autobiography, and his letters and speeches.
Forty-seven are matched to the original wording, old spelling and capitals included, with the year. Three are marked “attributed” because we have not yet matched their wording to the printed original. They cover money, industry, honesty, liberty, and his dry humor about human nature.
He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.
Eat to live, and not live to eat.
God helps them that help themselves.
Better slip with foot than tongue.
Look before, or you'll find yourself behind.
It is better to take many Injuries than to give one.
Bad Commentators spoil the best of books.
Approve not of him who commends all you say.
By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.
Fish and visitors stink after three days.
Necessity never made a good bargain.
Don't throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.
He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.
A penny saved is two pence clear.
Well done is better than well said.
A good conscience is a continual Christmas.
Lost time is never found again.
Time is money.
Learn of the skilful: He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.
To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.
Speak and speed: the close mouth catches no flies.
Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.
Dost thou love Life? then do not squander Time; for that's the Stuff Life is made of.
Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.
When you're good to others, you're best to yourself.
The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the fool from his friends.
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
Hide not your Talents, they for Use were made. What's a Sun-Dial in the shade!
Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd, and never well mended.
What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.
Haste makes Waste.
Half the Truth is often a great Lie.
Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy.
Drive thy business, let not that drive thee.
Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting.
There are no gains without pains.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship.
A fat kitchen makes a lean will.
What maintains one vice, would bring up two children.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
For want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was lost.
Remember that Time is Money.
Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride... even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.
I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.