Benjamin Franklin

Electricity experiments, founding father

Early Modern influential 213 sayings

Sayings by Benjamin Franklin

To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.

— Attributed, but exact source unclear
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

1738 — From a letter
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

1757 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

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

1733 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

He that composes himself is wiser than he that composes books.

1734 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.

1754 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.

1747 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

When the well's dry, we know the worth of water.

1746 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.

1750 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Creditors have better memories than debtors.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The doors of wisdom are never shut.

1758 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

He that can have patience can have what he will.

1746 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Lost time is never found again.

1748 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

He that speaks much is much mistaken.

1734 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable