Quotessence
Home / Authors / Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Founding Father of the United States

Filter quotes by topic

AllPoor RichardMenIfsLibertyMayInspirationalPeopleShould4th Of JulyWorldVirtueKnowsThinkingGivingLittlesWisdomWellsWiseLifeWant

Famous Benjamin Franklin Quotes

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

InspirationalGivingLittlesWarHappinessPoliticsPeaceFreedomLibertyRightsPoliticianEssentialsGiving UpDeserveSafetyLibertarianTemporaryInsightfulCensorshipAmendmentsFounding4th Of JulyInventorGiven UpFreedom And LibertyDeservingSecond AmendmentFreedom LibertyCivil LibertiesOur Founding FathersProperty RightsLimited GovernmentUs Founding FathersRight To Bear ArmsForefathersBearing ArmsObtainingAmerican GovernmentLimiting GovernmentRights And FreedomsFounding Fathers Of AmericaFounding AmericaPro GunLibertarian PartyFounding Fathers GunLimited Freedom2 AmendmentEternal VigilanceFounding Fathers Second AmendmentFounding Fathers DemocracyFramersLiberty And JusticeIndependence Day PatrioticDemocracy FreedomPrice Of FreedomAmerican FreedomSafety And SecurityPolymathsCorrupt GovernmentGun SafetyPower GovernmentSecurity And FreedomAmerican PowerAmerican Independence DaySecurity And LibertyFirst Amendment Rights
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
Create image

“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.”

LittlesValuesLeadershipWealthMoneyBusinessPoliticianFinancialEducationalRichesShipsFinanceSavingMaking MoneyComparisonExpensesKey To SuccessSavingsRoad To SuccessPoor RichardSaving MoneySinkingLeaksMoney ManagementFrugalityFinancial FreedomPracticalitySpending MoneyFrugalLittle MoneyMakin MoneyBest MoneyInvesting MoneyShips At SeaInvestment SuccessGreat MoneySpending LessGreat Financial
Book:Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin ...
Create image

“I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”

ShouldLooksLittlesAmericaKnownFiguresBirdRedAccountsOriginalsBritishSillyVainNativeComparisonFarmsYardsCoatsTurkeysEaglesRespectableBald Eagle
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“Hereafter, if you should observe an occasion to give your officers and friends a little more praise than is their due, and confess more fault than you can justly be charged with, you will only become the sooner for it, a great captain.”

IfsGivingShouldLittlesPraiseFaultsDuesOccasionsAviationOfficersCaptainsHereafter
Book:The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin: Including His Private as Well as His Official and Scientific Correspondence, and Numerous Letters and Documents Now for the First Time Printed, with Many Others Not Included in Any Former Collection, Also, the Unmutilated and Correct Version of His Autobiography
Create image

“You must not, when you have gained a victory, use any triumphing or insulting expressions, nor show too much of the pleasure you feel; but endeavour to console your adversary, and make him less dissatisfied with himself by every kind and civil expression that may be used with truth; such as, you understand the game better than I, but you are a little inattentive, or, you play too fast; or, you had the best of the game, but something happened to divert your thoughts, and that turned it in my favour.”

FeelsKindMayLittlesPlayUseShowsUsedGamesPleasureToo MuchHappenedExpressionVictoryChessFavourAdversariesInsultingEndeavourConsoleDissatisfied
Book:The chess player: by George Walker; to which are added the three games played at one and the same time by Philidor; sixty openings, mates and situations, by W. S. Kenny, with remarks, anecdotes, &c. &c., and an explanation of the round chess board
Create image

“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.”

IfsLittlesEnoughPurposeTimeFoundLostProveAll ThingsAll TimeWasting TimeDiligencePerplexityLost Time
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“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.”

BelieveHumansMayLittlesWarGovernmentAgePoliticalInterestChanceMankindBuildingSucceedDespairProjectsAidsLocalsInstanceVotingDividedUnfortunateConquestHereafterByeBuilderReproachFounding Fathers ReligiousAmerican Founding FathersFounding Fathers AtheistChristian HeritageBabelHuman WisdomConstitutional Convention
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“I would advise you to read with a pen in your hand and enter in a little book short hints of what you feel that is common or that may be useful; for this will be the best method of imprinting such portcullis in your memory.”

FeelsMayLittlesBookHandsMemoriesCommonMethodBeing The BestPensAdviseHintsOur MemoriesMiscellaneousImprinting
Book:The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: a treasury of more than 900 quotations and anecdotes
Create image

“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it; Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith.”

IfsMenWayWantLittlesMadeMoneyLordWiseTroubleProduceTreasureRelyConsumerismFillingAnother WayVacuumsOverconsumptionRely Upon
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image