Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Read much, but not many books.

But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved copies, their hand is mended by the endevour, and is tolerable while it continues fair and legible

There are two ways of being happy: We may either diminish our wants or augment our means- either will do- the result in 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. If you are active and prosperous or young and 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 very wise you will do both in such a way as to augment the general happiness of society.

If you would persuade, appeal to interest and not to reason

Nine men in ten are suicides.

All would live long, but none would be old.

He’s a Fool that cannot conceal his Wisdom.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.

So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do

Half a truth is often a great lie

He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.

If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

He that cannot obey cannot command.

Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.