Benjamin Franklin

Electricity experiments, founding father

Early Modern influential 213 sayings

Sayings by Benjamin Franklin

scarcely worth a FART-HING

c. 1781 — Pun in 'A Letter to a Royal Academy' (also known as 'Fart Proudly')
Humorous Unverifiable

I shall rise to apologize for not getting up.

Unknown, likely late in life — Mocking rules of social etiquette due to gout and age
Humorous Unverifiable

The industrious man needs no food, for there shall be nourishment enough in the grave.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

He who endeavors to drink salt needs fear no thirst.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

The working man is fit and fed, and stabs the sluggard in his bed.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

Preparation is the burden of fools.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

To cross the sea takes naught but a pair of legs and the will to swim.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

The nude man catcheth the hen while the clothed man shivers.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

Shrewdness can turn one penny into two, but wisdom can turn a horse into a boy.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

Save a penny every year and you shall die a millionaire.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

For every pound of sand you eat, another shilling's yours to keep.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

A heavy ship cannot sink.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

No sin withers the soul more quickly than laughter.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

It is always better to be diligent, for he who toils with honor dies content, while he who is lazy sleeps with the diligent man's wife.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

Save a moment each day by leaving your trousers on while you relieve your bladder.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

He who dines on human meat, shall never want for things to eat.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack' (lesser-known wisdom)
Humorous Unverifiable

An old young man will be a young old man.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From a collection of lesser-known wisdom
Humorous Unverifiable

A man of words and not of deeds, is like a garden full of weeds.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From a collection of lesser-known wisdom
Humorous Unverifiable

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.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Humorous Unverifiable

To be content, look backward on those who possess less than yourself, not forward on those who possess more. If this does not make you content, you don't deserve to be happy.

Unknown, likely 18th century — From a collection of lesser-known wisdom
Humorous Unverifiable