Image of Founder Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790
Showing Benjamin Franklin Quotes 21 - 30 of 50
"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! We are offered, by the terms of this vendue, six months' credit; and that perhaps has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over you liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will make poor pitiful sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your veracity, and sink into base downright lying; for, as Poor Richard says, the second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. And again, to the same purpose, lying rides upon debt's back. Whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: 'Tis hard for an empty bad to stand upright, as Poor Richard truly says."source: Smyth, Writings of Benjamin Franklin, 3:416debt, money, monetary gain, debtors, bondage, borrowing, lending, owing money
"The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason."source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1758.faith, reason, belief
"Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech."source: Letter from "Silence Dogood," printed in The New England Courant, July 9, 1722.freedom of speech, freedom of thought, liberty, wisdom
"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed."source: Apology for Printers, 1731.freedom of speech, freedom of the press, printers, taking offense
"Printers are educated in the Belief, that when Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick; and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."source: Apology for Printers, 1731.freedom of speech, freedom of the press, opinion, debate
"A true friend is the best possession."source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1744.friendship, companionship
"To lengthen thy life lessen thy meals."source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733.health, diet, wellness
"Without justice, courage is weak."source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1734.juries, justice, courage, strength, knowledge
"When men are employed they are best contented."source: Autobiography (Begun in 1771, published in full 1868).labor, work, employment
"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing."source: Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738.leaving a legacy, journal keeping, emulation, importance of record keeping

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