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Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Founding Father of the United States

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Famous Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“I have lived, Sir, a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth -- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel”

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Author:Benjamin Franklin
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“In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.”

IfsWayShouldYearsMayChildrenLongStillsLostGivenParentCommonBoysTakenFourExampleSonRegretFineDiedForgivingSakeChosenOperationsMy SonFour YearsNever ForgiveSuppositionLost OnesPox
Book:The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
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“In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”

IfsShouldStillsHardShowsRealityPassionNaturalStruggleVirtueAliveHumilityPrideProudPleaseBeatsOvercomingIf I CouldNow And ThenDisguiseBe Proud
Book:The autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
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“Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old Inhabitants are not jealous of them; the Laws protect them sufficiently so that they have no need of the Patronage of great Men; and every one will enjoy securely the Profits of his Industry. But if he does not bring a Fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to live.”

IfsMenNeedsDoeEnoughLawEnjoyRoomsIndustryProtectFortuneProfitStrangerImmigrationWelcomeGreat MenJealousIndustriousPatronageNot Jealous
Book:The Life and Miscellaneous Writings of Benjamin Franklin
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“I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, make the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.”

IfsMenFirstsMayPhilosophyFormWorkAbilityAttentionStudyCuttingPlansMankindAffairAccomplishPlanningEmploymentOne ManSoleExecutionAmusementTolerableBusiness PlanGreat ChangeCutting Off
Book:Great American Lives: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant, Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie, and The Education of Henry Adams
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“What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility; what an extension of agriculture even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements might not have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief.”

IfsHas BeensWarMightLastsMillionsMankindComfortMountainRiversSpendingImprovementBridgesAgricultureExtensionsEmployedUtilityConvenienceDoing GoodMischiefEdificeCanalsNew RoadsAqueducts
Book:The Portable Benjamin Franklin
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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.”

IfsKnowsMenMayLastsDiesBusinessAttentionSuccessfulIndustryMy FriendsAddNosesPoor RichardOwn BusinessFrugalityGrindstone
Book:Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin
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“Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not performed with solicitous care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils.”

IfsHumansMaySometimesCareEvilHuman NatureSeriousSourceSlaveryAbolitionAbolition Of SlaverySlavery Freedom
Book:The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters, Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author
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“Indeed, when religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry people quarrel about victuals, it looks as if they had not much of either among them.”

PeopleIfsLooksReligionReligiousAtheismHungryQuarrels
Book:The Works of Benjamin Franklin; Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters, Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author
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“Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter, wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others who are within his sphere of action: and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life.”

PeopleIfsMenGivingActionCasesShareComfortFairsAbsurdVanityProductiveThank GodQuartersDislikeSpheres
Book:Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818
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“And as to the Cares, they are chiefly what attend the bringing up of Children; and I would ask any Man who has experienced it, if they are not the most delightful Cares in the World; and if from that Particular alone, he does not find the Bliss of a double State much greater, instead of being less than he expected.”

IfsMenWorldChildrenDoeStatesCareAsksFamilyGreaterParticularExpectedBlissDelightful
Book:Poor Richard's Almanack and Other Writings
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“If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself.”

IfsMeanLawPoliticalLibertyOpinionShareWillingPleaseUnderstoodPressesPrivilegeConsentDiscussingLegislatorsProprietyPolitical Opinions
Book:Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin ...
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“If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

PeopleIfsWantPersonsDoneAsksStrongWomenEmpowermentBusyInternationalFeministEmpoweringIronWomen EmpowermentStrong WomenWomanhoodWant SomethingEmpoweredEmpowering WomenGirl PowerPowerful WomenWomen WantFamous WomenEmpowered WomenWomen Empowering WomenInspirational WomenWise WomenInspirational Strong WomenWomen PowerInternational Women's DayBadass WomenInspire WomenStrong Women And LoveIron LadyStrong Independent WomenInternational Women DayWomen StrengthCareer WomenWomans DayYour StrongStrong Powerful WomenWomens DayWomen Best InspirationalStand StrongStrong Women MotivationInspirational FeministImages Of Strong WomenI Want A WomanStrong MotivationalFunny Strong WomenHappy Womens DayProud WomanKickass WomenBusy PersonWomen And StrengthWomen History MonthIndependent Person
Author:Benjamin Franklin
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“Those renowned generals [Alexander and Caesar] received more faithful service, and performed greater actions by means of the love their soldiers bore them, than they could possibly have done, if instead of being beloved and respected they had been hated and feared by those they commanded.”

IfsMeanDoneActionLeadershipGreaterSoldierHatedFaithfulBelovedBoresRenownedFaithful Service
Book:Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818
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