Quotes from Benjamin Franklin

A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.

After three days men grow weary of a wench, a guest, and rainy weather.

All cats are gray in the dark.

All mankind is divided into three classes: those who are immovable, those who are movable and those who move.

Ambition has its disappointments to sour us...

An investment in knowledge still yields the best returns.

Anger is never without a reason but seldom a good one.

As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.

By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!

Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.

Dost thou love life? Than do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of.

Early morning hath gold in its mouth.

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man happy wealthy and wise.

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.

Energy and persistence conquer all thing.

Experience is a dear teacher, but fools will learn at no other.

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.

Five thousand balloons, capable of raising two men each, could not cost more than five ships of the line; and where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defense as that 10,000 men descending from the clouds might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?

For the want of a nail, the shoe was lose; for the want of a shoe the horse was lose; and for the want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail.

God heals, and the doctor takes the fee.

He is a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.

He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face