The body of Benjamin Franklin, Printer (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out and stripped of its lettering and gilding), lies here, food for worms; but the work shall not be lost, for it will (as he believed) appear once more in a new and more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the author.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
Also given as, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." (cited Historical Review of Pennsylvania (1759))
You may delay, but Time will not.
Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.
He who multiplies riches multiplies cares.
It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.
The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned, but still 'tis nonsense.
If passion drives, let reason hold the reins.
If you would be loved, love, and be loveable.
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
Hear reason, or she'll make you feel her.
I haven't failed, I've found ten thousand ways that don't work.
(also attrib. Thomas Edison)
Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.
There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.
If we take care of the minutes, the years will take care of themselves.
Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
Were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults in the first.
Children and Princes will quarrel for Trifles.
Many a little makes a mickle. Beware of small expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.
Who has deceived thee so oft as thyself?
Contentment makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.
Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.
It is Ill-manners to silence a fool, and Cruelty to let him go on.
A good example is the best sermon.
Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.
He that is of Opinion Money will do every Thing, may well be suspected of doing every Thing for Money.
See also Halifax.
Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.
Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.
Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other.
Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow.
Necessity never made a good bargain.
Blame-all and Praise-all are two blockheads.
Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such Thing as Wisdom; and no such Thing as publick Liberty, without Freedom of Speech.
Inscribed on Cox Corridor II, first floor House corridor, U.S. Capitol.
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.
Who is wise? He that learns from every One. Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.
WIST is my collection of quotations I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), well-phrased, and/or to which I just say I "Wish I'd Said That." But just because I quote it here doesn't mean I actually agree with it. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to
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