Benjamin Franklin Quotes Witty And Wise

Benjamin Franklin quotes and sayings are popularly used by motivational speakers and corporate trainers.

I find his words of wisdom are well-thoughtful out, witty and very relevant even till today.

I love to use them because they are short, easy to remember and and they can be easily quoted in our everyday conversation.

Beware. There are many so-called Benjamin Franklin quotes found in established quotation websites and books which are unverified and wrongly attributed.

Many of the quotes are NOT by Benjamin Franklin.

Before you use or share any quote, make sure it indicates where the quote is sourced from.

It must come from a reliable source. Not just any website or book/magazine.

Benjamin Franklin Quotes

Here are some of the most memorable verified authentic Benjamin Franklin quotes which are witty and wise:

“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin, Selections From Apothegms And Proverbs, With A Brief Sketch Of The Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Waterloo, Iowa: The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 131, P. 20) source

(The quote is also found in: Poor Richard’s Almanac For 1850, As Written By Benjamin Franklin For The Years 1733 – 1734 – 1735, New York: John Doggette Jr., 1849, Maxims, P. 44) source

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

(The quote is also found in: Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin, New York: Barnes & Noble, 2004, March 1756, P. 253) source

“If you desire many things, many things seem but a few.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Distrust and caution are the parents of security.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“When the Wine enters, out goes the Truth.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The Way To Wealth Or Poor Richard Improved By Benj. Franklin, Paris: A.A. Renouard, 1795, P. 25) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“…do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The Way To Wealth Or Poor Richard Improved by Benj. Franklin, Paris: A.A. Renouard, 1795, P. 6) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“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.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“He that lives well, is learned enough.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin, New York: Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2004, October, 1736, P. 41) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Fish and visitors stink in 3 days.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Drive thy business, or it will drive thee.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Write with the learned, pronounce with the vulgar.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“…there never was a good war or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Letter To Josiah Quincy Sr., 11 September 1783) source

(The quote is also found in: The Friend of Peace By Philo Pacificus, Volume 1, Boston: Joseph T. Buckingham, 1816, No. XI Review Of Dr. Franklin’s Account Of War, Letter To Joseph Banks, 1783, P. 4) source

“He that sells upon trust, loses many friends, and always wants money.” – Benjamin Franklin

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

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“Creditors have better memories than debtors.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Tis easy to see, hard to foresee.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Th quote is also found here.)

“Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough”. – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin, Selections from apothegms and proverbs, with a brief sketch of the life of Benjamin Franklin, The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 594; p.56) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Glass, china, and reputation, are easily crack’d, and never well mended.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“That it is better 100 guilty Persons should escape than that one innocent Person should suffer.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The Writings Of Benjamin Franklin, Collected And Edited By Albert Henry Smyth, Vol. IX, 1783-1788, New York: The MacMillan Company, 1906, 1552. To Benjamin Vaughan, On The Criminal Laws And The Practice Of Privateering, March 14, 1785, P. 293) source

(You can also find this quote here.)

“…a great Empire, like a great Cake, is most easily diminished at the Edges.” – Benjamin Franklin

(“Rules By Which A Great Empire May Be Reduced To A Small One”; The Public Advertiser, September 11, 1773) source

(The quote is also found in: The Life and Essays of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Carefully Collected from His Own Papers, Containing All His Miscellaneous Pieces, London: John M’Gowan, 1838, Rules For Reducing A Great Empire To A Small One, Presented To A Late Minister, When He Entered Upon His Administration, P. 408) source

(Another source of this quote is found here.)

“Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin, Selections from apothegms and proverbs, with a brief sketch of the life of Benjamin Franklin, The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 76; p.16) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Admiration is the daughter of ignorance.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography. Poor Richard, Letters, By Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 225) source

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“A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Most fools think they are only ignorant.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Despair ruins some, presumption many.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that cannot obey, cannot command.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin, Selections from apothegms and proverbs, with a brief sketch of the life of Benjamin Franklin, The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 84; p.16) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Vanity backbites more than Malice.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“…waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them every thing.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Benjamin Franklin Written By Himself To A Late Period, And Continued To The Time Of his Death By His Grandson, William Temple Franklin, Second Edition, Vol. V., Posthumous And Other Writings, London: Henry ColBurn, 1818, Part I, Section II, Miscellanies, Advice To A Young Tradesman, Written Anno 1748, To My Friend, A. B., P. 107) source

(The quote is also found in: Memoirs Of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 2, By Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia: McCarty & Davis, 1834, Philosophical, To My Friend A. B., Advice to Young tradesman-written Anno, 1784, P. 480) source

“Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.” – Benjamin Franklin

(You can also find the quote .)

“A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error…” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Poverty wants some things, luxury many things, avarice all things.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Necessity has no law; Why? Because ’tis not to be had without money.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Meanness is the parent of insolence.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“When out of favor, none know thee; when in, thou dost not know thyself.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“…happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Letter To Lord Kames, 28 February 1768 From Abercairny Collection, Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh) source

(The quote is also found in: Memoirs Of The Life And Writings Of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. By Benjamin Franklin, London: Henry Colburn, 1818, Philosophical Subjects, On Chimnies, SC., To Lord Kames, London, Feb. 28, 1768, P. 368) source

“If man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Idleness and Pride Tax with a heavier Hand than Kings and Parliaments; If we can get rid of the former we may easily bear the Latter.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Letter To Charles Thomson, 11 July 1765, As Printed In The London Chronicle, November 14–16, 1765) source

(The quote is also found in: The Writings Of Benjamin Franklin, Collected And Edited With A life And Introduction by Albert Henry Smyth, Volume X, 1789-1790, London: The MacMillan Company, 1907, The Life Of Benjamin Franklin, Ch.IV, The Stamp Act, P. 223) source

“The sting of a reproach, is the truth of it.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found in: The Works Of Benjamin Franklin Consisting Of Essays, Humorous, Moral And Literary With His Life, Written By Himself, Chiswick: Press Of Charles Whittingham, 1824, Franklin’s Essays, P. 246) source

“Without justice, courage is weak.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Men often mistake themselves, seldom forget themselves.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason…” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Declaiming against pride, is not always a sign of humility.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Give me yesterday’s bread, this day’s flesh, and last year’s cyder.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Idleness is the greatest prodigality.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Ignorance leads men into a party, and shame keeps them from getting out again.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden but it is forbidden because it’s hurtful. Nor is a duty beneficial because it is commanded, but it is commanded, because it’s beneficial.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography. Poor Richard, Letters, By Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 221) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Lost time is never found again…” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of the wise man is in his heart.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“A fat kitchen, a lean will.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that have not wit enough to be honest.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“If men are so wicked as we now see them with religion what would they be if without it?” – Benjamin Franklin

(The Writings Of Benjamin Franklin, Collected And Edited By Albert Henry Smyth, Vol. IX, 1783-1788, New York: The MacMillan Company, 1906, 1552. To —, July 3, 1786, P. 522) source

(The quote is also found here and here.

“Be not sick too late, nor well too soon.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanac For 1850, As Written By Benjamin Franklin For The Years 1733 – 1734 – 1735, New York: John Doggette Jr., 1849, Maxims, P. 34) source

(The quote is also found here and here.)

“All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the fool from his Friends.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Necessity never made a good bargain.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Opportunity is the great bawd.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Life And Times Of Benjamin Franklin By James Parton, Vol. I, New York: Mason Brothers, 1864, Part II., Ch.V, Poor Richard, And Other Publications, P. 231) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“After crosses and losses, men grow humbler and wiser.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“There are three faithful friends — an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Work as if you were to live 100 years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography. Poor Richard, Letters, By Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 228) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thyself?” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Hunger is the best pickle.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“A countryman between two lawyers, is like a fish between two cats.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish.” – Benjamin Franklin

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

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“Lovers, travellers and poets will give money to be heard.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that speaks much, is much mistaken.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a folly.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“The end of passion is the beginning of repentance.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“To be proud of Knowledge, is to be blind with Light; to be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the antidote.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“An ounce of wit that is bought, is worth a pound that is taught.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“When knaves fall out, honest men get their goods. When Priests dispute, we come at the truth.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that’s secure is not safe.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“You may delay, but time will not.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, the meanest bee hath, and will use, a sting.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed, or the other pitied.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“A lie stands on one leg, truth on two.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Women and wine, game and deceit, make the wealth small, and the wants great.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Blame-all and Praise-all are two blockheads.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin, Selections from apothegms and proverbs, with a brief sketch of the life of Benjamin Franklin, The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 87; p.17) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“An old Man in a House is a good Sign.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“Hunger never saw bad bread.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“…whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin, New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2007, P. 62) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Well done, is twice done.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack by Benjamin Franklin, Selections from apothegms and proverbs, with a brief sketch of the life of Benjamin Franklin, The U. S. C. Publishing Co., 1914, 610; p.57) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography Poor Richard, Letters, By Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 235) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Speak little, do much.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Who is wise? He that learns from every one. – Benjamin Franklin

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“Beware of meat twice boil’d, & an old foe reconcil’d.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that whines for glass without G, take away L and that’s he.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanack By Benjamin Franklin,1914, New York: Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2004, January, 1746, P. 132) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“The generous mind least regards money, and yet most feels the want of it.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that’s content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography Poor Richard, Letters, By Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 218) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“The rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at top.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography And Other Writings, Edited With An Introduction And Notes By Ormond Seavey, Oxford University Press, 1998, Poor Richard;s Maxims, 1733, P. 276) source

“Words may show a man’s wit, but actions his meaning.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“He that can have patience can have what he will.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Half the Truth is often a great Lie.” – Benjamin Franklin

(The quote is also found here.)

“A good example is the best sermon.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Pride gets into the Coach, and Shame mounts behind.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Poor Richard’s Almanac For 1851, As Written By Benjamin Franklin, For The Year 1736-1737-1738, New York: John Doggett Jr., 1850, Poor Richard For 1738, Maxim, P. 41) source

“Content and Riches seldom meet together…” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Anger and Folly walk cheek by jowl; Repentance treads on both their Heels.” – Benjamin Franklin

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“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself a Slave to it.” – Benjamin Franklin

(Autobiography. Poor Richard, Letters, by Benjamin Franklin, New York: D. Appleton And Company, 1900, Sayings Of Poor Richard, P. 197) source

(The quote is also found here.)

“Learn of the skillful: He that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master.” – Benjamin Franklin

(You can also find this quote here.)