1.
The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all others, charity.
Benjamin Franklin
2.
War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is.
Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.
Benjamin Franklin
Conflict is when the state designates the antagonist, whereas insurrection is when you make that judgement independently.
3.
Women are books, and men the readers be.
Benjamin Franklin
'Females are volumes, and males the perusers shall be.'
4.
If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.
Benjamin Franklin
If everyone is of the same mind, then nobody is pondering.
5.
Common sense is something that everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack.
Benjamin Franklin
All people require judiciousness, only a select few own it, and nobody imagines they are without it.
6.
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.
Benjamin Franklin
Whoever would undermine the freedom of a nation must start by constraining the expressiveness of speech.
7.
When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
When you're down to nothing, God is up to something. The faithful see the invisible, believe the incredible and then receive the impossible.
Where liberty dwells there is my country.
Benjamin Franklin
8.
I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else.
Benjamin Franklin
I never encountered an individual who was adept at offering justifications who excelled in other areas.
9.
They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
Those who would surrender fundamental freedom to gain a momentary security, merit neither liberty nor safety.
10.
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech; which is the right of every man as far as by it he does not hurt or control the right of another; and this is the only check it ought to suffer and the only bounds it ought to know.... Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech, a thing terrible to traitors.
Benjamin Franklin
11.
He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.
Benjamin Franklin
One who would exchange freedom for transient safety, merits neither liberty nor security.
12.
Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.
Benjamin Franklin
Equity will not be accomplished until those unaffected exhibit the same indignation as those affected.
13.
Little minds think and talk about people.
Average minds think and talk about things and actions.
Great minds think and talk about ideas.
Benjamin Franklin
Small intellects contemplate persons. Average intellects ponder matters and deeds. Brilliant intellects ruminate concepts.
14.
Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.
Benjamin Franklin
Alcohol is demonstrative evidence that the Almighty cherishes us and delights in our joy.
15.
Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest.
Benjamin Franklin
Deceit and duplicity are the domain of the inept, who lack the intelligence to be straightforward.
16.
Those Who Sacrifice Liberty For Security Deserve Neither.
Benjamin Franklin
People who surrender freedom for safety will acquire neither.
17.
Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.
Benjamin Franklin
Trust little of what is spoken and accept some of what you observe.
18.
In free governments the rulers are the servants, and the people their superiors and sovereigns.
Benjamin Franklin
In democratic societies, the leaders are subordinates and the citizens their superiors and supreme authority.
19.
Security without liberty is called prison.
Benjamin Franklin
'Safety without freedom is termed incarceration.'
20.
Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.
Benjamin Franklin
Liberty is not a favor given to us by others, but an entitlement that we are entitled to under the decrees of the divine and nature.
21.
It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.
Benjamin Franklin
Every citizen has a duty to challenge power.
22.
Masonic labor is purely a labor of love. He who seeks to draw Masonic wages in gold and silver will be disappointed. The wages of a Mason are in the dealings with one another; sympathy begets sympathy, kindness begets kindness, helpfulness begets helpfulness, and these are the wages of a Mason.
Benjamin Franklin
23.
Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances.
Benjamin Franklin
24.
Most men die from the neck up at age twenty-five because they stop dreaming.
Benjamin Franklin
A majority of people give up on their aspirations by the age of twenty-five, leading to a premature demise.
25.
Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you.
Benjamin Franklin
Render yourself vulnerable and the predators will devour you.
26.
If you do tomorrow what you did today , you will get tomorrow what you got today
Benjamin Franklin
If you persist in the same actions, the results will remain unchanged.
27.
A Brother may not be a Friend, but a Friend will always be a Brother.
Benjamin Franklin
'A Sibling may not be a Companion, but a Companion will always be a Sibling.'
28.
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
Benjamin Franklin
A populace of educated individuals who are aware of the privileges provided by their Creator cannot be subjugated. It is in a state of unawareness that despotism commences.
29.
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
Benjamin Franklin
We are all born naive, yet one must strive to stay foolish.
30.
Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins. Republics and limited monarchies derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.
Benjamin Franklin
31.
Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.
Benjamin Franklin
Being oblivious is not so much a disgrace, as being disinclined to acquire knowledge.
32.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Benjamin Franklin
To slumber in a timely manner and awaken promptly will lead to prosperity and intelligence.
33.
How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.
Benjamin Franklin
Admit one's shortcomings and strive to improve them.
34.
Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.
Benjamin Franklin
Tremble before the Lord, and your adversaries will cower.
35.
I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.
Benjamin Franklin
I advocate assisting the impoverished, but I take issue with the method. In my view, the most effective way of aiding those in need is not to simply tolerate their hardship, but to actively work towards alleviating it.
36.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Benjamin Franklin
37.
Lost time is never found again.
Benjamin Franklin
Missed opportunity never returns.
38.
Well done is better than well said.
Benjamin Franklin
Accomplished trumps articulated.
39.
The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.
Benjamin Franklin
40.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares usually end up plowing for those who kept their swords.
Benjamin Franklin
'Those who convert their weapons into tools of production usually find themselves working for those who maintained their armaments.'
41.
Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.
Benjamin Franklin
Wealth has never brought joy to mankind, and it will not do so in the future; nothing about it can create contentment. The more one acquires, the more they yearn for.
42.
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
Refrain from uttering inappropriate remarks at the opportune moment.
43.
The U. S. Constitution doesn't guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.
Benjamin Franklin
The U.S. Constitution does not promise joy, only the chase for it. You must find it yourself.
44.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Benjamin Franklin
45.
The man who does things makes mistakes, but he doesn't make the biggest mistake of all-doing nothing.
Benjamin Franklin
46.
I have lived, Sir, a long time and 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? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that "except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel
Benjamin Franklin
47.
By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.
Benjamin Franklin
48.
For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.
Benjamin Franklin
49.
Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.
Benjamin Franklin
50.
Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?
Benjamin Franklin
