My favorite Benjamin Franklin Quotes

These quotes are from Benjamin Franklin.

So apparently, Ben was wise, but he was a deist or morelike an unsaved Christian who didn't believe that Jesus was God. Pity. He had nothing to lose by picking a truth and everything to gain.

Eat to live, and not live to eat.

I do love to eat and taste great food, but sometimes food becomes an idol or an obstacle from life itself. Food is great, but it will turn to ashes with our body. It isn't eternal.

After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.

Dwelling on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ humbles me even more the more I do it (the more often I dwell on it and the longer that I do). Likewise, making a mistake that results in a loss (even out of ignorance that couldn't have been foretold) is very humbling. The older I get, the more losses I experience or encounter in others' lives.

Necessity never made a good bargain.

When we need something and are desparate, we are not likely to make the best purchase. So in this case, the trick is to plan ahead and look for bargains, anticipating your future needs.

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

Ben has interesting ways of saying things. So what he's saying here is that it's impossible to keep a secret. Or moreso, it's unwise to assume that someone will keep a secret. I think life has taught us all that very well. Right? Right? RIGHT?????

The best way to keep a secret is to tell no one... or to have none. That said, I think it's important to tell your spouse anything of value and then to merely trust them (and if they aren't trustworthy, then that's something the spouse needs to work on).

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

I think most of us have heard that one. The world's a little different now, but the main point is still true... sieze the day and don't be lazy. At the time, people who were late to bed and rise were partiers and not hard workers, so they didn't make as much money, and they didn't sieze the day and make the most out of their lives.

What is serving God?
Tis doing Good to Man.

I think this is a good summary when we want to serve God. Doing "good to man" can take many forms. This could be helping somebody carry something, using encouraging words, paying for someone's meal, or even spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

God helps them that help themselves.
from Algernon Sidney (1622–1683)

This is a quote of Ben quoting Alernon. Makes sense that he collected quotes. I think God does bless us when we ask, but often God merely opens doors for us to run through. He doesn't push us through those doors.

The worst wheel of a cart makes the most noise.

What he's saying here is that the person who is the least helpful or useful to a project or purpose is also the person who often complains the most about that project or purpose. In other words, you choose to be miserable and make those around you miserable.

The poor have little,
Beggars none;
The rich too much
Enough not one.

You can never have enough money and wealth. You keep trying to accumulate, and then you die. I think the moral here is to focus on eternal value instead.

More quotes that I like (but will think about and respond to later)...

There are three faithful friends -- an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.

Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.

He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

Does thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.

Little strokes,
Fell great oaks.

The cat in gloves catches no mice.

Work as if you were to live a hundred years,
Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.

One good Husband is worth two good Wives; for the scarcer things are, the more they're valued.

Fish and visitors stink after three days.

Who has deceiv'd thee so oft as thy self?

To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.

Well done is better than well said.

Who is rich? He that rejoices in his Portion.

What you seem to be, be really.

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

Tim was so learned, that he could name a horse in nine Languages.
So ignorant, that he bought a cow to ride on.

Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.

People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.

Read much, but not too many books.

He that speaks much, is much mistaken.

Glass, China, and Reputation, are easily crack'd, and never well mended.

Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a folly.

To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

A little neglect may breed great mischief...for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost.

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

At the signing of the Declaration of Independence

There was never a good war or a bad peace.

Letter to Josiah Quincy [September 11, 1783]

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy [Nov. 13, 1789]

Those who are feared are hated.

There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit.

A mob's a monster; heads enough but no brains.

Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one make you but even with him; forgiving it sets you above him.

Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Thanks for reading!

Ed