Quotes of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a man of many trades. The founding fathers were a group of men who unified the thirteen colonies to gain independence from The Great Britain. He was also an inventor, politician, publisher and spoke extensively of his political philosophies.

benjamin franklin quotes about self-criticism

He wrote about the history of physics and therefore was an important figure of American Enlightenment. He also invented lightning rods and bifocal lenses. Since, he campaigned for the unification of the thirteen colonies he was a wise man and had the title of “The First American”.

Love your Enemies, for they tell you your faults.
  1. “Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.”-Benjamin Franklin

2. “He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.”-Benjamin Franklin

3. “What you seem to be, be really.”-Benjamin Franklin

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

4. “Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.”-Benjamin Franklin

5. “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

Having been poor is no shame, being ashamed of it is.

6. “Having been poor is no shame, being ashamed of it is.”-Benjamin Franklin

God helps them who help themselves.

7. “God helps them who help themselves.”-Benjamin Franklin

benjamin franklin quotes about time management

Since Benjamin Franklin was involved in multiple projects in a variety of fields he prioritized management of time. He believed in doing things worth-while and putting time to very good use.

You may delay, but time will not.
  1. “You may delay, but time will not.”-Benjamin Franklin

2. “Look before, or you’ll find yourself behind.”-Benjamin Franklin

One today is worth two tomorrows.

3. “One today is worth two tomorrows.”-Benjamin Franklin

4. “Lost Time is never found again.”-Benjamin Franklin

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the Stuff Life is made of.

6. “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time; for that’s the Stuff Life is made of.”-Benjamin Franklin

7. “Employ your time well, if you mean to get leisure.”-Benjamin Franklin

Haste makes Waste.

8. “Haste makes Waste.”-Benjamin Franklin

benjamin franklin quotes about life

“The First American” founded the values of American life. He taught the value of hard work, education and national solidarity. He recognized the importance of self-governing institutions and denied authoritarian values.

Better slip with foot than tongue.
  1. “Better slip with foot than tongue.”-Benjamin Franklin

2. “He that lies down with Dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”-Benjamin Franklin

Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.

3. “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”-Benjamin Franklin

4. “Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.”-Benjamin Franklin

He that would live in peace and at ease, Must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.

5. “He that would live in peace and at ease, Must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.”-Benjamin Franklin

6. “A true Friend is the best Possession.”-Benjamin Franklin

7. “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”-Benjamin Franklin

8. “No gains without pains.”-Benjamin Franklin

When you’re good to others, you’re best to yourself.

9. “When you’re good to others, you’re best to yourself.”-Benjamin Franklin

10. “If you wou’d not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write
things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”-Benjamin Franklin

11. “Wish not so much to live long as to live well.”-Benjamin Franklin

12. “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days”.-Benjamin Franklin

13. “Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.”-Benjamin Franklin


14. “Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor.”-Benjamin Franklin


15. “Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead”-Benjamin Franklin

16. “Would you live with ease, do what you ought and not what you please.”-Benjamin Franklin

17. “Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.”-Benjamin Franklin

benjamin franklin quotes about virtue and education

He brought forth the American Enlightenment under strict puritanical regime. He placed emphasis on education and inculcating the right values through means of education in the masses.

Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.
  1. “Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.”-Benjamin Franklin

2. “What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.”-Benjamin Franklin

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.

3. “Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.”-Benjamin Franklin

4. “Well done is better than well said.”-Benjamin Franklin

I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.

5. “I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.”-Benjamin Franklin

6. “A right Heart exceeds all.”-Benjamin Franklin


7. “The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.”-Benjamin Franklin

8. “Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.”-Benjamin Franklin

9. “Hide not your Talents, they for Use were made. What’s a Sun-Dial in the shade!”-Benjamin Franklin

10. “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”-Benjamin Franklin

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

11. “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”-Benjamin Franklin

12. “Teach your child to hold his tongue; he’ll learn fast enough to speak.”-Benjamin Franklin


13. “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”-Benjamin Franklin

14. “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

benjamin franklin quotes about liberty and politics

He was the first secretary of American Philosophical Society. He was a hero to the nation at the time. He was instrumental in having the Stamp Act of Parliament of Great Britain, repealed. He successfully developed a good relationship with French-Americans which aided in their struggle for freedom.

1.“There never was a good war or a bad peace.”-Benjamin Franklin

Security without liberty is called prison.

2.”Security without liberty is called prison.”-Benjamin Franklin

3. “It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.”-Benjamin Franklin

4. “If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.”-Benjamin Franklin

5. “It is better to take many Injuries than to give one.”-Benjamin Franklin

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.

6. “Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.”-Benjamin Franklin

7. “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