Benjamin Franklin

“Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.”

“If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.”

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

“Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal.”

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

“He who falls in love with himself will have no rivals.”

“Vessels large may venture more, But little boats should keep near shore.”

“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.”

“Fools make feasts and wise men eat them.”

“If you would be remembered, write a book worth the reading or live a life worth the writing about.”

“For my own Part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring Favours, but as paying Debts. In my Travels, and since my Settlement, I have received much Kindness from Men, to whom I shall never have any Opportunity of making the least direct Return. And numberless Mercies from God, who is infinitely above being benefited by our Services. Those Kindnesses from Men, I can therefore only Return on their Fellow Men; and I can only shew my Gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other Children and my Brethren. For I do not think that Thanks and Compliments, tho’ repeated weekly, can discharge our real Obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator.”

“Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter.”

“Honesty is the best policy.”

“When the well is dry, they know the worth of water.”

“Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.”

“You will find the key to success under the alarm clock.”

“Industry need not wish.”

“A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.”

“Beware the hobby that eats.”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”