Quotes by Franklin, Benjamin




Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 April 17, 1790) was one of the most prominent of Founders and early political figures and statesmen of the United States. Considered the earliest of the Founders, Franklin was noted for his curiosity, ingenuity and diversity of interests. His wit and wisdom is proverbial to this day. More than anyone he shaped the American Revolution despite never holding national elective office. As a leader of the Enlightenment he had the attention of scientists and intellectuals all across Europe. As agent in London before the Revolution, and Minister to France during, he more than anyone defined the new nation in the minds of Europe. His success in securing French military and financial aid was decisive for American victory over Britain. He invented the lightning rod; he invented the notion of colonial unity; he invented the idea of America; historians hail him as the "First American". The city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will mark Franklin's 300th Birthday in January 2006, with a wide array of exhibitions, and events citing Franklin's extraordinary accomplishments throughout his illustrious career..

"Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never mended well."

Franklin, Benjamin on reputation
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"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

Franklin, Benjamin on resolution    Share

"He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities."

Franklin, Benjamin on rest
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"If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with to the other world?"

Franklin, Benjamin on riches
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"He who multiplies riches, multiplies cares."

Franklin, Benjamin on riches    Share

"Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion."

Franklin, Benjamin on riches
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"Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least you will, by such conduct, stand the best chance for such consequences."

Franklin, Benjamin on rules
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"He that's secure is not safe."

Franklin, Benjamin on safety
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"Three can keep a secret if two are dead."

Franklin, Benjamin on secrets
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"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."

Franklin, Benjamin on knowledge
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"He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals."

Franklin, Benjamin on love    Share

"Observe all men, thyself most."

Franklin, Benjamin on self-observation
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"Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble."

Franklin, Benjamin on service
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This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

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

Franklin, Benjamin on service
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"I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has? Answer. Commend her among her female acquaintances."

Franklin, Benjamin on slander    Share

"Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."

Franklin, Benjamin on sleep
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"Half wits talk much, but say little."

Franklin, Benjamin on speakers and speaking
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"He that speaks much, is much mistaken."

Franklin, Benjamin on speakers and speaking
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"He's a fool that makes his doctor his heir."

Franklin, Benjamin on stupidity
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"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid."

Franklin, Benjamin on stupidity
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"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock."

Franklin, Benjamin on success
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"Would you live with ease, do what you should, and not what you please. Success has ruined many a man."

Franklin, Benjamin on success    Share

"Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning."

Franklin, Benjamin on action
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"Never confuse motion with action."

Franklin, Benjamin on action
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"Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man."

Franklin, Benjamin on books - reading
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"Read much, but not many books."

Franklin, Benjamin on books - reading    Share

"If you would know the value of money try to borrow some."

Franklin, Benjamin on borrowing
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"So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a grout at last."

Franklin, Benjamin on business    Share

"If you can't pay for a thing, don't buy it. If you can't get paid for it, don't sell it. Do this, and you will have calm and drowsy nights, with all of the good business you have now and none of the bad. If you have time, don't wait for time."

Franklin, Benjamin on business    Share

"Drive your business, let not your business drive you."

Franklin, Benjamin on business
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"Beware the hobby that eats."

Franklin, Benjamin on caution    Share

"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Franklin, Benjamin on certainty
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"Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes."

Franklin, Benjamin on certainty
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"When you're finished changing, you're finished."

Franklin, Benjamin on change
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"A cheerful face is nearly as good for an invalid as healthy weather."

Franklin, Benjamin on cheerfulness    Share

"A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar."

Franklin, Benjamin on tact and tactfulness
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This quotation can be viewed in the context of a book

"We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our foolishness."

Franklin, Benjamin on taxes and taxation
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"There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government."

Franklin, Benjamin on taxes and taxation    Share

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