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

“My List of Virtues contain'd at first but twelve: But a Quaker Friend having kindly inform'd me that I was generally thought proud; that my Pride show'd itself frequently in Conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any Point, but was overbearing & rather insolent; of which he convinc'd me by mentioning several Instances; - I determined endeavouring to cure myself ..., and I added Humility to my List, giving an extensive Meaning to the Word.”

GivingFirstsShowsVirtueHumilityPrideProudConversationDeterminedListsCuresInstanceTwelveDiscussingQuakerInsolentOverbearing
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.”

PeopleCharacterReligionFreedomVirtueMoralityCapableRepublicVirtuousFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyAmerican GovernmentFounding AmericaAmerican LibertyMoral Virtues
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
Create image

“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
Create image

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

PeopleNeedsYearsPoliticsNationsMoralVirtueMastersMoralityCapableLeapRepublicHeritageVirtuousFoundingViciousFreedom And LibertyFreedom LibertyOur Founding FathersFounding Fathers ChristianUs Founding FathersAmerican GovernmentMoral PrinciplesFounding AmericaAmerican Founding FathersAmerican LibertyMoral VirtuesMoral FreedomMoral Corruption
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.”

HappinessVirtueVirtuousFrugalityIndustriousFrugalStudious
Book:Works of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin: consisting of his life, written by himself : together with essays, humourous, moral & literary, chiefly in the manner of the Spectator : in two volumes
Create image

“I think with you, that nothing is of more importance for the public weal, than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue. Wise and good men are in my opinion, the strength of the state; more so than riches or arms.”

ThinkingMenStatesFormOpinionVirtueWiseYouthArmsImportanceTrainRichesGood Man
Book:The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Ed., and Many Letters Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author
Create image

“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.”

ThinkingLastsReligionReligiousVirtueScriptureOrthodoxyLast DayFounding Fathers ChristianFounding Fathers ReligionFounding Fathers Anti Religion
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
Create image

“"We hold these truths to be sacred and undeniable" in a draft of the Declaration of Independence changes it instead into an assertion of rationality. The scientific mind of Franklin drew on the scientific determinism of Isaac Newton and the analytic empiricism of David Hume and Gottfried Leibniz. In what became known as "Hume's Fork" the latters' theory distinguished between synthetic truths that describe matters of fact, and analytic truths that are self-evident by virtue of reason and definition.”

MindSelfMatterReasonFactsKnownVirtueTheoryIndependenceSacredDefinitionsEvidentDeclarationRationalityDistinguishedNewtonAssertionMatter Of FactFranklinForksDeclaration Of IndependenceDeterminismAnalyticsIsaacSyntheticEmpiricismHume
Author:Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“That there is one God, who made all things. That he governs the world by his providence. That he might be worshipped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving. But that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to Man. That the Soul is immortal. And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, either here or hereafter.”

MenWorldMadeSoulMightPrayerVirtueAll ThingsRewardsVicesGods WillImmortalAcceptableProvidenceAdorationDoing GoodHereafter
Book:Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Create image

“I think also, that general virtue is more probably to be expected and obtained from the education of youth, than from exhortations of adult persons; bad habits and vices of the mind being, like diseases of the body, more easily prevented than cured. I think moreover, that talents for the education of youth are the gift of God; and that he on whom they are bestowed, whenever a way is opened for use of them, is as strongly called as if he heard a voice from heaven.”

IfsThinkingWayMindPersonsUseBodyHeavenVoiceEducationVirtueHeardTalentYouthHabitDiseaseAdultsVicesExpectedGift From GodBad Habits
Book:The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Ed., and Many Letters Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author
Create image

“Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.”

IfsFeelsCharacterPainPleasureLevelsVirtueDespairHearingNeighborDistinctionReverseMiscellaneousGood Character
Book:The works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of essays, humorous, moral, and literary: with his life, written by himself
Create image

“If a sound body and a sound mind, which is as much as to say health and virtue, are to be preferred before all other considerations, ought not men, in choosing a business either for themselves or children, to refuse such as are unwholesome for the body, and such as make a man too dependent, too much obliged to please others, and too much subjected to their humors in order to be recommended and get a livelihood?”

IfsMenMindChildrenBodyOrderSoundVirtueToo MuchOughtPleaseRefuseDependentConsiderationObligedLivelihoodSound MindSound Body
Book:Poor Richard Day by Day
Create image