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Benjamin Franklin was a Founding Father of the United States, and he left behind a large body of writing that is still revered and studied today.
Franklin’s words are full of wisdom, and his quotes are no exception.
In this blog post, let’s examine some of Benjamin Franklin’s most famous quotes and what they mean to us today.
Whether you’re looking for advice on personal growth or tips on productivity, these quotes have something to offer everyone. Enjoy!
50+ Benjamin Franklin Quotes That Will Make You Smart:
1. “A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error.” — Benjamin Franklin
2. “A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.” — Benjamin Franklin
3. “The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked, than the supine, secure, and negligent.” — Benjamin Franklin
4. “A fat kitchen makes a lean will.” — Benjamin Franklin
5. “God helps them who help themselves.” — Benjamin Franklin
6. “He’s the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.” — Benjamin Franklin
7. “Eat to please yourself, but dress to please others.” — Benjamin Franklin
8. “He that is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he promises, may at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money his friends can spare.” — Benjamin Franklin
9. “The art of getting riches consists very much in thrift. All men are not equally qualified for getting money, but it is in the power of every one alike to practice this virtue.” — Benjamin Franklin
10. “Having been poor is no shame; being ashamed of it is.” — Benjamin Franklin
11. “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
12. “There is much difference between imitating a man and counterfeiting him.” — Benjamin Franklin
13. “A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” — Benjamin Franklin
14. “Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let every new year find you a better man.” — Benjamin Franklin
15. “Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.” — Benjamin Franklin
16. “Humility makes great men twice honourable.” — Benjamin Franklin
17. “He who can have patience can have what he will.” — Benjamin Franklin
18. “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do.” — Benjamin Franklin
19. “Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones.” — Benjamin Franklin
20. “When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, and your country, be up by peep of day! Let not the sun look down and say, ‘Inglorious here he lies!’” — Benjamin Franklin
21. “There are three faithful friends: an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.” — Benjamin Franklin
22. “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” — Benjamin Franklin
23. “A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.” — Benjamin Franklin
24. “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freshness of speech.” — Benjamin Franklin
25. “Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.” — Benjamin Franklin
26. “Let all of your Things have their Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.” — Benjamin Franklin
27. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin
28. “A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error.” — Benjamin Franklin
29. “A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.” — Benjamin Franklin
30. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin
31. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” — Benjamin Franklin
32. “Distrust and caution are the parents of security.” — Benjamin Franklin
33. “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” — Benjamin Franklin
34. “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough, to be honest.” — Benjamin Franklin
35. “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
36. “I never saw an oft-removed tree, nor yet an oft-removed family, that throne so well as those that settled be.” — Benjamin Franklin
37. “Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked and never well mended.” — Benjamin Franklin
38. “Eat to live, and not live to eat.” — Benjamin Franklin
39. “A great talker may be no fool, but he is one that relies on him.” — Benjamin Franklin
40. “Be not sick too late, nor well too soon.” — Benjamin Franklin
41. “There are two ways of being happy — we may either diminish our wants or augment our means — either will do, the result is the same; and it is for each man to decide for himself, and do that which happens to be the easiest. If you are idle or sick or poor, however hard it may be to diminish your wants, it will be harder to augment your means.” — Benjamin Franklin
42. “If you are active and prosperous, or young, or in good health, it may be easier for you to augment your means than to diminish your wants. But if you are wise, you will do both at the same time, young or old, rich or poor, sick or well, and if you are wise, you will do both in such a way as to augment the general happiness of society.” — Benjamin Franklin
43. “Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.” — Benjamin Franklin
44. “Lost time is never found again.” — Benjamin Franklin
45. “Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.” — Benjamin Franklin
46. “If you love life, don’t waste time, because time is what life is made of.” — Benjamin Franklin
47. “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” — Benjamin Franklin
48. “You may delay, but time will not.” — Benjamin Franklin
49. “Be not sick too late, nor well too soon.” — Benjamin Franklin
50. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” — Benjamin Franklin
51. “Fear to do ill, and you need fear nought else.” — Benjamin Franklin
52. “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” — Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin was a genius of many trades. A polymath in the truest sense of the word, he excelled in diplomacy, writing, printing, and science.
He also had a knack for aphorisms, which he called “maxims”. We’ve collected some of his most famous quotes on success and compiled them here.
Use these as inspiration to keep you moving towards your goals! How will you put Franklin’s wisdom into practice today?
Diksha Garg
I am a talented and passionate content writer with a knack for creating captivating and informative articles. With a strong command over language and a keen eye for detail, I deliver engaging content that resonates with readers. With a diverse writing portfolio and a passion for research, I cover a wide range of topics, including technology, lifestyle and education. My commitment to excellence and dedication to my craft make me a reliable and valuable asset in the world of content writing.