Portrait of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Electricity experiments, founding father

Early Modern influential 213 sayings

Sayings by Benjamin Franklin

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

1734 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Wisdom Unverifiable

Better slip with foot than tongue.

1733 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Wisdom Unverifiable

A penny saved is a penny got.

1737 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Wisdom Unverifiable

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

Unknown, likely late 18th century — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint. Widely accepted as Franklin's sentiment.
Wisdom Unverifiable

Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.

1735 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Wisdom Unverifiable

The noblest question in the world is, What good may I do in it?

1726 — Letter to Cotton Mather
Wisdom Confirmed

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

1779 — Often misquoted; actual variant: 'Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, the…
Biblical Confirmed

A man who lives on hope dies farting.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Inspirational Unverifiable

Fish and visitors stink after three days.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Confirmed

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

1776 — At the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Wisdom Unverifiable

The only things certain in life are death and taxes.

1789 — Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy
Money & Business Unverifiable

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

1735 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Money & Business Confirmed

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

1733 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Confirmed

There never was a good war or a bad peace.

1773 — Letter to Josiah Quincy
War & Conflict Unverifiable

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.

1779 — Letter to André Morellet
Biblical Unverifiable

A penny saved is a penny earned.

1737 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Confirmed

Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Confirmed

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

1746 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Love & Relationships Unverifiable

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

1742 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Unverifiable

Well done is better than well said.

1737 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Wisdom Confirmed
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