Benjamin Franklin quotes
Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790): American polymath and statesman. The library holds 145 quotes by Benjamin Franklin, drawn from Poor Richard’s Almanack, Autobiography, The Way to Wealth and other works. The 60 below are the most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
Often about: wisdom, money, life, time, character, health
The best-known Benjamin Franklin quotes
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Lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough, always proves little enough.
The Way to Wealth (Poor Richard Improved) -
Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry.
The Way to Wealth (Poor Richard Improved) -
Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Never leave that till to-morrow, which you can do to-day.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
But, dost thou love life? then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Early to bed and early to rise, Makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Maxims prefixed to Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1757 -
God helps them that help themselves.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Three removes are as bad as a fire.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
A little neglect may breed great mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.
Autobiography -
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Many estates are spent in the getting, Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting, And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Creditors have better memories than debtors; creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing, goes a sorrowing.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like,—serve yourself.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Not to oversee workmen, is to leave them your purse open.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
A small leak will sink a great ship.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Little strokes fell great oaks.
Maxims prefixed to Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1757 -
What maintains one vice, would bring up two children.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
He has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.
The Whistle. November, 1779 -
It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and he that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.
The Way to Wealth -
The morning hour has gold in its mouth.
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Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.
Autobiography -
If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher’s stone.
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Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good.
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When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten more to be all of a piece.
The Way to Wealth -
Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
Autobiography -
Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy.
The Way to Wealth -
Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
Autobiography -
He that blows the coals in quarrels he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face.
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Vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful.
Autobiography -
We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the Commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement.
The Way to Wealth -
A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone.
Maxims prefixed to Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1757 -
The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market; it depends chiefly on two words—industry and frugality.
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Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, money in the purse, credit in the country, contentment in the house, clothes on the back, and vigor in the body.
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Keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her out-goes are greater than her incomes.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good-morrow.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hope will die fasting.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt;—Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty and supped with Infamy.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Women and wine, game and deceit, Make the wealth small, and the want great.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Then plow deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
If you will not hear Reason, she will surely rap your knuckles.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
Time will seem to have added wings to his heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
He that by the plow would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.
Poor Richard’s Almanack -
It is easier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel.
Poor Richard’s Almanack
Where these quotes come from
- Poor Richard’s Almanack (64 quotes)
- Autobiography (10 quotes)
- The Way to Wealth (6 quotes)
- Maxims prefixed to Poor Richard’s Almanac (3 quotes)
- The Way to Wealth (Poor Richard Improved) (2 quotes)
- The Whistle. November (1 quote)
- At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July (1 quote)
- Letter on the Stamp (1 quote)
Every quote comes from a public-domain edition. How the library was made .