Benjamin Franklin was one of timeless genius and his sharp wit with clever ideas can help you to achieve success and satisfaction, no matter the situation. The remarkable American author, diplomat, printer, philosopher, scientist, and politician had plenty of fascinating words of wisdom to share, which have endured centuries to still be relevant and inspiring today.
From finding focus to living with purpose, most famous Benjamin Franklin quotes can motivate and elevate you to new heights.
Best Benjamin Franklin Quotes
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. Benjamin Franklin
Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass. Benjamin Franklin
Well done is better than well said. Benjamin Franklin
There never was a good war or a bad peace. Benjamin Franklin
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong. Benjamin Franklin
Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead. Benjamin Franklin
A good conscience is a continual Christmas. Benjamin Franklin
Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. Benjamin Franklin
Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. Benjamin Franklin
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff that life is made of. Benjamin Franklin
Lost time is never found again. Benjamin Franklin
The only thing that is more expensive than education is ignorance. Benjamin Franklin
It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it. Benjamin Franklin
Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. Benjamin Franklin
Energy and persistence conquer all things. Benjamin Franklin
Tis a great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him his. Benjamin Franklin
Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame. Benjamin Franklin
Never leave till tomorrow which you can do today. Benjamin Franklin
Diligence is the mother of good luck. Benjamin Franklin
He that can have patience can have what he will. Benjamin Franklin
Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy. Benjamin Franklin
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Benjamin Franklin
How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them. Benjamin Franklin
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Benjamin Franklin
A penny saved is a penny earned. Benjamin Franklin
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin
There are three things extremely hard steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self. Benjamin Franklin
Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it. Benjamin Franklin
Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight. Benjamin Franklin
At twenty years of age the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgment. Benjamin Franklin
Most men die from the neck up at age twenty-five because they stop dreaming. Benjamin Franklin
When you’re finished changing, you’re finished. Benjamin Franklin
Honesty is the best policy. Benjamin Franklin
Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are. Benjamin Franklin
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. Benjamin Franklin
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech. Benjamin Franklin
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body. Benjamin Franklin
Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances. Benjamin Franklin
Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest. Benjamin Franklin
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. Benjamin Franklin
Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it. Benjamin Franklin
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech. Benjamin Franklin
Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade? Benjamin Franklin
All mankind is divided into three classes those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move. Benjamin Franklin
Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones. Benjamin Franklin
Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin
There are three faithful friends an old wife, an old dog, and ready money. Benjamin Franklin
Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor. Benjamin Franklin
Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow. Benjamin Franklin
Where there’s marriage without love, there will be love without marriage. Benjamin Franklin
To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions. Benjamin Franklin
If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins. Benjamin Franklin
The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart. Benjamin Franklin
Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out. Benjamin Franklin
Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life. Benjamin Franklin
Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days. Benjamin Franklin
If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing. Benjamin Franklin
Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75. Benjamin Franklin
We do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing! Benjamin Franklin
We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. Benjamin Franklin
While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us. Benjamin Franklin
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Benjamin Franklin
You may delay, but time will not. Benjamin Franklin
Don’t go to the doctor with every distemper, nor to the lawyer with every quarrel, nor to the pot for every thirst. Benjamin Franklin
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. Benjamin Franklin
Man and woman have each of them qualities and tempers in which the other is deficient, and which in union contribute to the common felicity. Benjamin Franklin
When in doubt, don’t. Benjamin Franklin
It is a common error in friends, when they would extol their friends, to make comparisons, and to depreciate the merits of others. Benjamin Franklin
Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout. Benjamin Franklin
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. Benjamin Franklin
He’s the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines. Benjamin Franklin
If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
Our opinions are not in our own power; they are formed and governed much by circumstances that are often as inexplicable as they are irresistible. Benjamin Franklin
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Benjamin Franklin
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other. Benjamin Franklin
Hope and faith may be more firmly built upon charity, than charity upon faith and hope. Benjamin Franklin
A place for everything, everything in its place. Benjamin Franklin
He that would live in peace at ease, Must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees. Benjamin Franklin
Common sense is something that everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack. Benjamin Franklin
The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest. Benjamin Franklin
It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man. Benjamin Franklin
He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money. Benjamin Franklin
Half a truth is often a great lie. Benjamin Franklin
If you would know the value of money, go try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing. Benjamin Franklin
God helps those who help themselves. Benjamin Franklin
If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect. Benjamin Franklin
He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals. Benjamin Franklin
Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing. Benjamin Franklin
He that lives upon hope will die fasting. Benjamin Franklin
There is much difference between imitating a man and counterfeiting him. Benjamin Franklin
If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher’s stone. Benjamin Franklin
Never confuse motion with action. Benjamin Franklin
Educate your children to self control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society. Benjamin Franklin
A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave. Benjamin Franklin
To be content, look backward on those who possess less than yourself, not forward on those who possess more. If this does not make you content, you don’t deserve to be happy. Benjamin Franklin
Take time for all things great haste makes great waste. Benjamin Franklin
I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up. Benjamin Franklin
Rather go to bed without dinner than to rise in debt. Benjamin Franklin
Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others. Benjamin Franklin
In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is bacteria. Benjamin Franklin
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. Benjamin Franklin
In my youth, I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. Benjamin Franklin
Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal. Benjamin Franklin
Buy what thou hast no need of and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessities. Benjamin Franklin
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin
Leisure is the time for doing something useful. This leisure the diligent person will obtain the lazy one never. Benjamin Franklin
Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. Benjamin Franklin
Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn. Benjamin Franklin
Where liberty is, there is my country. Benjamin Franklin
He that rises late must trot all day. Benjamin Franklin
It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority. Benjamin Franklin
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one. Benjamin Franklin
If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed. Benjamin Franklin
Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody. Benjamin Franklin
I am for doing good to the poor, but. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. Benjamin Franklin
It is the eye of other people that ruin us. If I were blind I would want, neither fine clothes, fine houses or fine furniture. Benjamin Franklin
The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. Benjamin Franklin
It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. Benjamin Franklin
As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence. Benjamin Franklin
Hunger is the best pickle. Benjamin Franklin
The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn’t know how to read. Benjamin Franklin
There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government. Benjamin Franklin
The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason. Benjamin Franklin
There are two ways of being happy We must either diminish our wants or augment our means either may do the result is the same and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier. Benjamin Franklin
Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion. Benjamin Franklin
To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals. Benjamin Franklin
When the well is dry, they know the worth of water. Benjamin Franklin
Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease. Benjamin Franklin
The doors of wisdom are never shut. Benjamin Franklin
Distrust and caution are the parents of security. Benjamin Franklin
Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults. Benjamin Franklin
Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God. Benjamin Franklin
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Benjamin Franklin
Most people return small favors, acknowledge medium ones and repay greater ones with ingratitude. Benjamin Franklin
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. Benjamin Franklin
A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle. Benjamin Franklin
To find out a girl’s faults, praise her to her girlfriends. Benjamin Franklin
Genius without education is like silver in the mine. Benjamin Franklin
When you’re testing to see how deep water is, never use two feet. Ben Franklin
A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. Benjamin Franklin
If you would be loved, love, and be loveable. Benjamin Franklin
Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away. Benjamin Franklin
Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is. Benjamin Franklin
Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning. Benjamin Franklin
Marriage is the most natural state of man, and the state in which you will find solid happiness. Benjamin Franklin
If Jack’s in love, he’s no judge of Jill’s beauty. Benjamin Franklin
Fatigue is the best pillow. Benjamin Franklin
Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble. Benjamin Franklin
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody. Benjamin Franklin
He that displays too often his wife and his wallet is in danger of having both of them borrowed. Benjamin Franklin
In the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Lack of it. Ben Franklin
A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats. Benjamin Franklin
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. Benjamin Franklin
The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands. Benjamin Franklin
The discontented man finds no easy chair. Benjamin Franklin
My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but, with this lighter repast, I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension. Flesh eating is unprovoked murder. Benjamin Franklin
He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or all he sees. Benjamin Franklin
There never was a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous. Benjamin Franklin
One today is worth two tomorrows. Benjamin Franklin
If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality. Benjamin Franklin
The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all others, charity. Benjamin Franklin
If you desire many things, many things will seem few. Benjamin Franklin
I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administred for a Course of Years and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other. Benjamin Franklin