Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general.

Quotes

Glass, china, and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended.
God heals, and the doctor takes the fees.
He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.
He that can have patience can have what he will.
He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.
He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees.
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.
How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.
I am in the prime of senility.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
Rules too soft are seldomly followed; rules too harsh are seldomly executed.
Tell me....And I Forget,
Teach me.....And I Learn,
Involve Me.....And I Remember.
If you would know the value of money, go try to borrow some; for he that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.
Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; to severe, seldom executed.
Anger is never without Reason, but seldom with a good One.
Perhaps the history of the errors of mankind, all things considered, is more valuable and interesting than that of their discoveries. Truth is uniform and narrow; it constantly exists, and does not seem to require so much an active energy, as a passive aptitude of the soul in order to encounter it. But error is endlessly diversified; it has no reality, but is the pure and simple creation of the mind that invents it. In this field the soul has room enough to expand herself, to display all her boundless faculties, and all her beautiful and interesting extravagancies and absurdities.
Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.
Who is wise? He that learns from every One.
Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.
Who is that? Nobody.
Take it from Richard, poor and lame,
what's begun in anger ends in shame.

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