Blow are my best 5 Benjamin Franklin quotations taken from his famous publication “Poor Richard’s Almanack“.
Polymath Benjamin Franklin published a yearly almanac called “Poor Richard’s Almanack“.
For this popular publication, Franklin adopted the pseudonym of “Poor Richard” or “Richard Saunders“.
It was said the name “Richard Saunders” was “stolen” and not borrowed from the seventeenth-century author of “Rider’s British Merlin“, a popular London almanac.
It was claimed that Benjamin Franklin actually adapted his “Poor Richard’s Almanack” from his older brother James Franklin‘s satirical almanac series, titled “Poor Robin: An Almanack“.
“Poor Richard’s Almanack” was published from 1732 to 1758.
It had a good mishmash of weather forecasts, practical household tips, puzzles, poems, astronomical and astrological information.
Occasionally, Franklin also included the mathematical exercise.
Among all its content, the most popular stuff in there was the sayings, witty phrases and wordplay.
These maxims usually was about counseling thrift and courtesy, with a touch of cynicism.
Some of his witty phrases published in “Poor Richard’s Almanack” made it into the contemporary American vernacular.
This pamphlet was a runaway success, with 10,000 copies per year sold.
One of the success of Almanack, was the inclusion of various “news stories” in serial format, which kept its readers coming back for more.
It brought Benjamin Franklin both fame and fortune.
Best 5 Benjamin Franklin Quotations
Below are my best 5 Benjamin Franklin quotes taken from his writings.
“To be humble to superiors is a 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 .)
“Who is wise? He that learns from everyone.” – 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, 651, P. 61) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a folly.” – 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, 443, P. 44) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“There are three faithful friends — an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.” – 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, 520, P. 50) source
(The quote is also found here.)
“The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.” – 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, 474, P. 47) source
(The quote is also found here.)
Here you can find a big selection of authentic verified Benjamin Franklin quotes.