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Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

(January 17, 1706 – April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a drafter and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the first United States Postmaster General.

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A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district - all studied and appreciated as they merit - are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty.

– Benjamin Franklin

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A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.

– Benjamin Franklin

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A democracy is two wolves and a small lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Freedom under a constitutional republic is a well armed lamb contesting the vote. (Misattributed)

– Benjamin Franklin

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A good conscience is a continual Christmas.

– Benjamin Franklin

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A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two different things.

– Benjamin Franklin

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A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.

– Benjamin Franklin

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A penny saved is a penny earned.

– 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

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After three days men grow weary of a wench, a guest, and rainy weather.

– Benjamin Franklin

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All cats are gray in the dark.

– Benjamin Franklin

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All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse.

– Benjamin Franklin

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All mankind is divided into three classes: those who are immovable, those who are movable and those who move.

– Benjamin Franklin

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All the property that is necessary to a Man, for the Conservation of the Individual and the Propagation of the Species, is his natural Right, which none can justly deprive him of: But all Property superfluous to such purposes is the Property of the Publick, who, by their Laws, have created it, and who may therefore by other laws dispose of it, whenever the Welfare of the Publick shall demand such Disposition. He that does not like civil Society on these Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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All would live long, but none would be old.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Ambition has its disappointments to sour us...

– Benjamin Franklin

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An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

– Benjamin Franklin

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An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

– Benjamin Franklin

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An investment in knowledge still yields the best returns.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Anger is never without a reason but seldom a good one.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, and most fools do.

– Benjamin Franklin

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As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.

– Benjamin Franklin

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At 20 years of age the will reigns, at 30 the wit, at 40 the judgment.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man

– Benjamin Franklin

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Be civil to all sociable to many familiar with few friend to one enemy to none.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Be civil to all; sociable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Beer is Proof that God Loves Us and Wants Us to be Happy!

– Benjamin Franklin

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Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.

– Benjamin Franklin

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But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

– Benjamin Franklin

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By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

– Benjamin Franklin

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By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Creditors have better memories than debtors.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Critics are our friends, they tell us our faults.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!

– Benjamin Franklin

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Diligence is the mother of good luck.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Distrust and caution are the parents of security.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Do good to thy Friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Dost thou love life Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Dost thou love life? Than do not squander time, for it is the stuff life is made of.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Drive thy business or it will drive thee.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Early morning hath gold in its mouth.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man happy wealthy and wise.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Energy and persistence conquer all thing.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Energy and persistence conquer all things.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Experience is a dear teacher, but fools will learn at no other.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Fish and visitors smell in three days.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Five thousand balloons, capable of raising two men each, could not cost more than five ships of the line; and where is the prince who can afford so to cover his country with troops for its defense as that 10,000 men descending from the clouds might not in many places do an infinite deal of mischief before a force could be brought together to repel them?

– Benjamin Franklin

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For the want of a nail, the shoe was lose; for the want of a shoe the horse was lose; and for the want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy, all for the want of care about a horseshoe nail.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Glass, china and reputation are easily cracked, and never well mended.

– Benjamin Franklin

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God heals, and the doctor takes the fee.

– Benjamin Franklin

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God heals, and the doctor takes the fees.

– Benjamin Franklin

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God helps them that help themselves

– Benjamin Franklin

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Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He does not possess wealth it possesses him.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He is a fool that cannot conceal his wisdom.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He is ill clothed that is bare of virtue.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that can have patience can have what he will.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

– Benjamin Franklin

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

– Benjamin Franklin

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He was so learned that he could name a horse in nine languages so ignorant that he bought a cow to ride on.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He who multiplies riches multiplies cares.

– Benjamin Franklin

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He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade

– Benjamin Franklin

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How many observe Christ's birthday How few, his precepts O 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I am a strong believer in luck and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I am in the prime of senility.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I believe I shall,in some shape or other,always exist; and, with all the inconveniences human life is liable to, I shall not object to a new edition of mine, hoping, however, that the errata of the last may be corrected.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I believe there is one Supreme most perfect being.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I cannot conceive otherwise than that He, the Infinite Father, expects or requires no worship or praise from us, but that He is even infinitely above it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I have been apt to think that there has never been, nor ever will be, any such thing as a good war, or a bad peace.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I know not which lives more unnatural lives, obeying husbands, or commanding wives.

– Benjamin Franklin

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I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth but rather by some means excuse the faults I hear charged upon others, and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If everyone's thinking alike then NO ONE is thinking.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's stone.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you would be loved, love and be lovable.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If you wouldst live long, live well, for folly and wickedness shorten life.

– Benjamin Franklin

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If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.

– Benjamin Franklin

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In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. There is no country in the world where so many provisions are established for them; so many hospitals to receive them when they are sick or lame, founded and maintained by voluntary charities; so many alms-houses for the aged of both sexes, together with a solemn general law made by the rich to subject their estates to a heavy tax for the support of the poor. Under all these obligations, are our poor modest, humble, and thankful; and do they use their best endeavours to maintain themselves, and lighten our shoulders of this burthen? — On the contrary, I affirm that there is no country in the world in which the poor are more idle, dissolute, drunken, and insolent. The day you passed that act, you took away from before their eyes the greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by giving them a dependance on somewhat else than a careful accumulation during youth and health, for support in age or sickness. In short, you offered a premium for the encouragement of idleness, and you should not now wonder that it has had its effect in the increase of poverty.

– Benjamin Franklin

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In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top.

– Benjamin Franklin

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In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

– Benjamin Franklin

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In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

– Benjamin Franklin

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It is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.

– Benjamin Franklin

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It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.

– Benjamin Franklin

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It is the working man who is the happy man. It is the idle man who is the miserable man.

– Benjamin Franklin

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It isn't what you know that counts, it's what you think of in time.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Keep thy eyes wide open before marriage, and half-shut afterwards.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Kill no more pigeons than you can eat.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Life's Tragedy is that we get old to soon and wise too late.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Little strokes fell great oaks.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Lost time is never found again.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Love your Enemies, for they tell you your faults.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Many complain of their memory, few of their judgment.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Many men die at twenty-five and aren't buried until they are seventy-five.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Marry your son when you will, but you daughter when you can.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. There is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of its filling a vacuum, it makes one. If it satisfies one want, it doubles and trebles that want another way. That was a true proverb of the wise man, rely upon it; "Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith."

– Benjamin Franklin

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Necessity never made a good bargain.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Never ruin an apology with an excuse.

– Benjamin Franklin

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No nation was ever ruined by trade.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Nothing is certain except death and taxes.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Our critics are our friends; they show us our faults.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Read much, but not many books.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Remember that time is money.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Rules too soft are seldomly followed; rules too harsh are seldomly executed.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Serving God is doing good to man. But praying is thought an easier service and is therefore more generally chosen.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Sin is not hurtful because it is forbidden, but it is forbidden because it's hurtful.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all things easy. He that rises late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night, while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.

– Benjamin Franklin

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So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The doors of wisdom are never shut.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The first mistake in public business is the going into it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: 'that God governs in the affairs of men.' And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?

– Benjamin Franklin

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The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice.

– Benjamin Franklin

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The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.

– Benjamin Franklin

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There are three great friends an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.

– Benjamin Franklin

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There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.

– Benjamin Franklin

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There is no little enemy.

– Benjamin Franklin

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

– Benjamin Franklin

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

– Benjamin Franklin

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They that will not be counseled, cannot be helped. If you do not hear reason she will rap you on the knuckles.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Think what you do when you run into debt; you give another power over your liberty.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Those disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory, sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Three people can keep a secret so long as two of them are dead.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Time is money.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To follow by faith alone is to follow blindly.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.

– Benjamin Franklin

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To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Use no hurtful deceit think innocently and justly and if you speak, speak accordingly.

– Benjamin Franklin

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We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.

– Benjamin Franklin

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We must hang together, gentlemen...else, we shall most assuredly hang separately.

– Benjamin Franklin

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We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall hang separately.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Wealth is not his that has it, but his who enjoys it.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Well done is better than well said.

– Benjamin Franklin

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What you seem to be, be really.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.

– Benjamin Franklin

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When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting,

– Benjamin Franklin

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Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Who is rich? He who is content. Who is that? Nobody.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Who is wise He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful He that governs his passions. Who is rich He who is content. Who is that Nobody.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Wish not so much to live long as to live well.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Without justice courage is weak.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Words may show a man's wit, but actions his meaning.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please.

– Benjamin Franklin

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Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.

– Benjamin Franklin

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You may delay, but time will not.

– Benjamin Franklin

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[A]s all history informs us, there has been in every State & Kingdom a constant kind of warfare between the governing & governed: the one striving to obtain more for its support, and the other to pay less. And this has alone occasioned great convulsions, actual civil wars, ending either in dethroning of the Princes, or enslaving of the people. Generally indeed the ruling power carries its point, the revenues of princes constantly increasing, and we see that they are never satisfied, but always in want of more. The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes; the greater need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance, and enable him to plunder at pleasure. There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not, if he could, follow the example of Pharaoh, get first all the peoples money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever ...

– Benjamin Franklin

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Quotes from the news wire:

This also has a yellow face but it's shaggier looking.

– Benjamin Franklin

Found on CNN 7 years ago

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