45 Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Liberty, Wisdom and Integrity

Benjamin Franklin is one of America's most notable historical figures. In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers of the U.S., he was also a scientist, writer, diplomat and humorist. It's no wonder we have so many famous Benjamin Franklin quotes to inspire us.

Franklin, born in 1706, is one of the only two non-Presidents to appear on United States currency (along with Alexander Hamilton), and his many inventions include the lightning rod and bifocals. To say he made his mark on the world could be considered an understatement and his words and ways of life are still impacting society today.

In order to gain insight into the great mind of Ben Franklin, look no further than some of his brilliant words and musings. Keep reading to check out the best quotes by Benjamin Franklin and learn a bit more about this interesting man.

Related: 45 Frederick Douglass Quotes To Celebrate His Incredible Legacy

45 Benjamin Franklin Quotes

1. “Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day.”

2. “Nothing was useful which was not honest.”

3. “Speak little, do much.”

4. “As we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours, and this we should do freely and generously.”

5. “Don't value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.”

6. “Lost time is never found again.”

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

8. “What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.”

9. “Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.”

10. “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.”

Related: 45 Carl Jung Quotes on Life, Wisdom and Perspective

11. “The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.”

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

13. “He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.”

14. “Our cause is the cause of all mankind. We are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.”

15. “Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.”

16. “Haste makes waste.”

17. “It is better to take many injuries than to give one.”

18. “All the property that is necessary to a man for the conservation of the individual is his natural right which none can justly deprive him of.”

19. “Reading was the only amusement I allow’d myself.”

20. “Wish not so much to live long as to live well.”

Related: 'Everything Popular Is Wrong'—Here Are the 50 Best Oscar Wilde Quotes

21. “Better slip with foot than tongue.”

22. “Every man is, of common right, and by the laws of God, a freeman, and entitled to the free enjoyment of liberty.”

23. “In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.”

24. “Teach your child to hold his tongue; he'll learn fast enough to speak.”

25. “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

26. “A true friend is the best possession.”

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

28. “The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.”

29. “From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the portion, it is still the birthright of all men.”

30. “He that's content, hath enough; He that complains, has too much.”

31. “There are no gains, without pains.”

32. “To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.”

33. “Visits should be short, like a winters day, Lest you're too troublesome hasten away.”

34. “He does not possess wealth; it possesses him.”

35. “Great Modesty often hides great Merit.”

Related: 45 Helen Keller Quotes on Life, Faith and Happiness

36. “It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined.”

37. “So convenient a thing is it to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”

38. "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God."

39. “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”

40. “Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits.”

41. “Love your Enemies, for they tell you your Faults.”

42. “Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.”

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

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

45. “Fools need advice most, but wise men only are the better for it.”

Next: 22 Ida B. Wells Quotes About Injustice, Truth and Virtue