Poor Richard Quotes

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.

He that best understands the world, least likes it

Men and Melons are hard to know.

He that speaks much, is much mistaken.

It is better to take many injuries than to give one.

Observe all men, thyself most.

Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, Is to save all the Money they can touch

If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.

The cat in gloves catches no mice.

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

When Wine enters, out goes the Truth.

Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.

What signifies knowing the Names, if you know not the Natures of things.

The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer.

The horse thinks one thing and he that rides him another

If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

If you desire many things, many things will seem few.

Remember that a good example is the best sermon.

The used key is always bright.

Pay what you owe and you'll know what's your own.

Lying rides upon debt's back.

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.

Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.

Do not do that which you would not have known.

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.

The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it.

Great Modesty often hides great Merit.

Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.

Let thy vices die before thee.

If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear.

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

If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to the other world?

He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.

Tis easy to see, hard to foresee.

They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.

He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

There is none deceived but he that trusts.

When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed or the other pitied.

Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot.

What is a butterfly? At best He's but a caterpiller drest. The gaudy Fop's his picture just.

He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.

As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.

When you are an Anvill, hold you still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.

All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful

Liberality is not giving much, but giving wisely.

Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted.

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

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

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou knowest, all thou hast, nor all thou cans't.