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Inspirational Quotations

by RightAttitudes.com

Inspirational Quotes by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Inspirational Quotations by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) was an American statesman, inventor, diplomat, writer, and scientist. This leading figure in the American struggle for independence was one of the most versatile and talented men in colonial America.

Born in Boston, Franklin apprenticed to his brother, a printer, and began writing anonymously for his brother’s newspaper. He moved to Philadelphia, then to London, and returned to Philadelphia and established himself as a printer. He bought the Pennsylvania Gazette and turned it into one of the American colonies’ significant newspapers. He also wrote and published Poor Richard’s Almanack, an astronomy journal, under the pseudonym Richard Saunders. The Almanack became well known for the witty proverbs and maxims that Franklin included as fillers.

A leading delegate to the Continental Congress, Franklin became its architect. He was the only individual to sign all the three key documents of the new nation: the Declaration of Independence, the treaty with Great Britain that ended the American Revolution, and the U.S. Constitution.

Franklin held various government posts, including that of the deputy paymaster general of the colonies, and emissary to France and Great Britain. Franklin was also involved in many public projects, including founding the American Philosophical Society, a subscription library, and, in 1751, an academy that later became the University of Pennsylvania.

Franklin’s foremost scientific achievements were the formulation of a theory of electricity, which introduced positive and negative electricity, the demonstration of the electrical nature of lightning. His primary inventions were the lightning conductor, the “Franklin stove” (a kind of freestanding cast-iron heater,) and bifocal spectacles.

Franklin was legendary for his lifelong quest for self-improvement, as he thoroughly documented in his Autobiography (1791.)

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Benjamin Franklin

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Inspirational Quotes by Benjamin Franklin (American Founding Father, Inventor)

Tell a miser he’s rich, and a woman she’s old, you’ll get no money of one, nor kindness of t’other.
—Benjamin Franklin

Then there was a maiden speech, so inaudible, that it was doubted whether, after all, the young orator really did lose his virginity.
—Benjamin Franklin

An ounce of wit that is bought, is worth a pound that is taught.
—Benjamin Franklin

Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Fashion

Lost time is never found again.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Time

I confess that there are several parts of this Constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them. For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise.
—Benjamin Franklin

Haste makes waste.
—Benjamin Franklin

A great Talker may be no Fool, but he is one that relies on him.
—Benjamin Franklin

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Money, Shopping, Thrift

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
—Benjamin Franklin

To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.
—Benjamin Franklin

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.
—Benjamin Franklin

The things which hurt, instruct.
—Benjamin Franklin

By diligence and patience, the mouse bit in two the cable.
—Benjamin Franklin

Don’t go to the doctor with every distemper, nor to the lawyer with every quarrel, nor to the pot for every thirst.
—Benjamin Franklin

If you would keep your Secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend.
—Benjamin Franklin

When friends are in trouble, don’t bother them by asking if there is anything you can do. Think of something appropriate and do it.
—Benjamin Franklin

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Education, Genius

If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun.
—Benjamin Franklin

The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
—Benjamin Franklin

Discussions should be conducted without fondness for dispute or desire for victory.
—Benjamin Franklin

That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer, is a Maxim that has been long and generally approved.
—Benjamin Franklin

He that can compose himself, is wiser than he that composes books.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Wisdom

Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad Habits.
—Benjamin Franklin

Fools multiply folly.
—Benjamin Franklin

Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Anger

You cannot choose between party government and Parliamentary government. I say you can have no Parliamentary government if you have no party government; and therefore when gentlemen denounce party government, they strike at the scheme of government which, in my opinion, has made this country great, and which, I hope, will keep it great.
—Benjamin Franklin

He that lives upon Hope, dies fasting.
—Benjamin Franklin

He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Kindness

We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Cooperation

Want of Care does us more Damage than Want of Knowledge.
—Benjamin Franklin

Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Health

Pay what you owe, and you’ll know what’s your own.
—Benjamin Franklin

In a progressive country change is constant; change is inevitable.
—Benjamin Franklin

Better is a little with content than much with contention.
—Benjamin Franklin

Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Mark of Folly.
—Benjamin Franklin

Don’t throw stones at your neighbours, if your own windows are glass.
—Benjamin Franklin

The Sun never repents of the good he does, nor does he ever demand a recompence.
—Benjamin Franklin

Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
—Benjamin Franklin

The secret to success is constancy to purpose.
—Benjamin Franklin
Topics: Purpose, One liners

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