Bits of Wisdom from Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790) was a leading author, statesman, diplomat, politician, inventor, a scientist, the author of the Poor Richard's Alamanac a best seller pamphlet published in the American colonies from 1732 -1758.

Benjamin Franklin's sayings and wisdom are simple words of common sense, here is a collection of interesting, inspirational sayings and bits of wisdom by a very wise man, the man who invented the lightning rod, the Franklin stove and bifocal glasses.

• Tell me my faults and mend your own.
• Saying and doing have quarrel'd and parted.
• Tomorrow every fault is to be amended; but that tomorrow never comes.
• A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.
• Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him
• You may delay but time will not.
• Virtue may always make a face handsome, but Vice will certainly make it ugly.
• Love and be loved.
• Trouble springs from idleness; toil from ease.
• Plow deep, while sluggards sleep and you will shall have corn, to sell and to keep.

• He that sows thorns, should never go barefoot.
• When a friend deals with a friend let the bargain be clear and well penne'd that they may continue friends to the end.
• He that never eats too much, will never be lazy.
• Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly.
• Great Modesty often hides great merit.
• If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
• Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.
• The doors of wisdom are never shut.
• Glass, china and reputation are easily cracked and never mended well.
• A spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.

• It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
• Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
• Little strokes fell great oaks.
• In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.
• Success has ruined many a man.
• Energy and persistence conquers all things.
• Fatigue is the best pillow.
• God helps them that help themselves.
• At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgement.
• Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.

• When knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed or the other pitied.
• An honest man will receive neither money nor praise, that is not his due.
• To be proud of knowledge, is to be blind with light; to be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the antidote.
• Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.
• A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute and leave contentedly.