Benjamin Franklin

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Creditors have better memories than debtors.

Doing an injury puts you below your enemy; revenging one make you but even with him; forgiving it sets you above him.

As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes; and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity.

Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter.

What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility; what an extension of agriculture even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements might not have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief.

This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong ; like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, tho' in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them.

Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.

He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.

Alas, I know if I ever became truly humble, I would be proud of it.

If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him.

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

A Man of Knowledge like a rich Soil, feeds If not a world of Corn, a world of Weeds.

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

Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom - and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.

A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough.

It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.

An egg today is better than a hen to-morrow.

Hot things, sharp things, sweet things, cold things All rot the teeth, and make them look like old things.

O powerful goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my resolution to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual favours to me.

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