Benjamin Franklin
Most fools think they are only ignorant.Collection: Thinking
If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again'; and 'What we call time enough always proves little enough'. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.Collection: Time
A change of fortune hurts a wise man no more than a change of the moon.Collection: Wise
Righteousness, or justice, is, undoubtedly of all the virtues, the surest foundation on which to create and establish a new state. But there are two nobler virtues, industry and frugality, which tend more to increase the wealth, power and grandeur of the community, than all the others without them.Collection: Two
He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he that hath a calling hath a place of profit and honor. A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.Collection: Honor
In prosperous fortunes be modest and wise, The greatest may fall, and the lowest may rise: But insolent People that fall in disgrace, Are wretched and nobody pities their Case.Collection: Wise
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry. Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered by tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do to-day.Collection: Time
In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.Collection: Gratitude
Forewarn'd, forearm'd.Collection: Caution
It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part.Collection: Libertarian Party
My rule, in which I have always found satisfaction, is, never to turn aside in public affairs through views of private interest; but to go straight forward in doing what appears to me right at the time, leaving the consequences with Providence.Collection: Views
If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately.Collection: Together
The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary.Collection: People
I think vital religion has always suffered when orthodoxy is more regarded than virtue. The scriptures assure me that at the last day we shall not be examined on what we thought but what we did.Collection: Religious
As often as we do good, we sacrifice.Collection: Sacrifice
He that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor.Collection: Motivational
We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.Collection: Life
Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou knowest, all thou hast, nor all thou cans't.Collection: Knowledge
Lost time can never be found againCollection: Lost
Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.Collection: Inspirational
When men are employed they are best contented.Collection: Work
Little rogues easily become great ones.Collection: Littles
The US Constitution only guarantees your rights as a citizen, it doesn't guarantee happiness. It may take work, but if you have your rights, happiness is very possible.Collection: Rights
Anger and folly walk cheeck by jowl.Collection: Anger
Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul; then shalt thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown; then shall thy soul walk upright, nor stoop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse because the hand which offers it wears a ring set with diamonds.Collection: Honesty
Those who give up their liberty for more security neither deserve liberty nor security.Collection: Giving Up
There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies.Collection: Lazy
If you want to be loved, love and be loveable.Collection: Marriage
He that lives well, is learned enough.Collection: Enough
Since I cannot govern my own tongue, though within my own teeth, how can I hope to govern the tongue of others?Collection: Teeth
A true friend is the greatest possesion.Collection: True Friend
Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.Collection: Inspirational
What is best for people is what they do for themselves.Collection: Self
I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.Collection: War
Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.Collection: Wise
Love, Cough, & a Smoke, can't well be hid.Collection: Smoking
Be ashamed to catch yourself idle.Collection: Ashamed
We must not in the course of public life expect immediate approbation and immediate grateful acknowledgment of our services. But let us persevere through abuse and even injury. The internal satisfaction of a good conscience is always present, and time will do us justice in the minds of the people, even those at present the most prejudiced against us.Collection: Grateful
Families ought to be noisy.Collection: Family
Indeed the general natural Tendency of Reading good History, must be, to fix in the Minds of Youth deep Impressions of the Beauty and Usefulness of Virtue of all Kinds, Publick Spirit, Fortitude.Collection: Education
Let thy discontents be thy secrets; if the world knows them 'twill despise thee and increase them.Collection: Secret
It is the man and woman united that makes the complete human being. Separate she lacks his force of body and strength of reason; he her softness, sensibility and acute discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the world.Collection: Men
Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.Collection: Watches
A Republic, if you can keep it.Collection: Political
Virtue may not always make a Face handsome, but Vice will certainly make it ugly.Collection: Vices
Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.Collection: Debtors
History will also give occasion to expatiate on the advantage of civil orders and constitutions; how men and their properties are protected by joining in societies and establishing government; their industry encouraged and rewarded, arts invented, and life made more comfortable; the advantages of liberty, mischiefs of licentiousness, benefits arising from good laws and a due execution of justice. Thus may the first principles of sound politics be fixed in the minds of youth.Collection: Education
Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.Collection: Bargaining