Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, humorist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.
As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. His colorful life and legacy of scientific and political achievement, and his status as one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers, have seen Franklin honored more than two centuries after his death on coinage and the $100 bill, warships, and the names of many towns, counties, educational institutions, and corporations, as well as countless cultural references.
Some of the best quotes from Benjamin Franklin are listed below.
- “A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. There will be sleeping enough in the grave.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “A penny saved is a penny earned.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Beware the hobby that eats.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Diligence is the mother of good luck.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that can have patience can have what he will.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that speaks much, is much mistaken.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that won’t be counseled can’t be helped.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He that’s secure is not safe.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Honesty is the best policy.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Hunger is the best pickle.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “I didn’t fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “If a man could have half of his wishes, he would double his troubles.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher’s stone.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Lost time is never found again.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “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
- “Necessity never made a good bargain.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Never confuse motion with action.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Never ruin an apology with an excuse.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Observe all men, thyself most.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “One today is worth two tomorrows.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Our necessities never equal our wants.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Take time for all things, great haste makes great waste.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “The doors of wisdom are never shut.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “The use of money is all the advantage there is in having it.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “When you’re testing to see how deep water is, never use two feet.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “Words may show a man’s wit but actions his meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin
