“Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities.”
Source: The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: a treasury of more than 900 quotations and anecdotes
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Famous Benjamin Franklin Quotes
“If you desire many things, many things will seem few.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Hear reason, or she'll make you feel her.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“Observe all men, thyself most.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.”
Source: The Life of Benjamin Franklin: Written by Himself ; to which is Added His Miscellaneous Essays
“When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure.”
Source: Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818
“If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.”
Source: Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin ...
“The use of money is all the advantage there is in having money.”
Source: The Life and Essays of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Carefully Collected from His Own Papers, Containing All His Miscellaneous Pieces
“Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.”
Source: Poor Richard; or, The way to wealth
“The discontented man finds no easy chair.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, The meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanac and Other Writings
“If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“Why does the blind man's wife paint herself.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge”
Source: The Works with His Life /Franklin, Benjamin
“He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, & countenance.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Now I've a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Fear to do ill, and you need fear else.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, Is to save all the Money they can touch”
Source: Poor Richard's almanac for 1850-52
“The proud hate pride in others.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy”
Source: 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
“An ounce of wit that is bought, Is worth a pound that is taught.”
Source: Poor Richard Day by Day
“Handle your tools without mittens.”
Source: The Way to Wealth
“A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.”
Source: Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818
“Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes, lest they lead you a weary Dance after them.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Great Modesty often hides great Merit.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“Let thy vices die before thee.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Many would live by their Wits, but break for want of Stock.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.”
Source: The Life and Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin
“He that sows Thorns, should never go barefoot.”
Source: Poor Richard's Almanack
“Mary's mouth cost her nothing for she never opens it but at others' expense.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding.”
Source: The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac
“If you, do what you should not, you must bear what you would not.”
“There is none deceived but he that trusts.”
Source: Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack
“The busy man has few idle visitors; to the boiling pot the flies come not.”
Source: Autobiography and Other Writings
“Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy.”
Source: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Including Poor Richard's Almanac, and Familiar Letters
Source: Autobiography and Other Writings