Benjamin Franklin

Human Felicity is produc'd not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day.

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.

These Names of Virtues with their Precepts were

Some volumes against Deism fell into my hands ... they produced an effect precisely the reverse to what was intended by the writers; for the arguments of the Deists, which were cited in order to be refuted, appeared to me much more …

For the Arguments of the Deists which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much Stronger than the Refutations. In short I soon became a thorough Deist.

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

From a Child I was fond of Reading, and all the little Money that came into my Hands was ever laid out in Books.

Most People dislike Vanity in others whatever Share they have of it themselves

From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the Portion, It is still the Birthright of all men.

[B]lessings ought rightfully to be administered, without distinction of Colour, to all descriptions of People, so they indulge themselves in the pleasing expectation, that nothing, which can be done for the relive of the unhappy objects of …

[M]ankind are all formed by the same Almighty being, alike objects of his Care & equally designed for the Enjoyment of Happiness the Christian Religion teaches us to believe & the Political Creed of America fully coincides with the …

It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one-tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service.

A penny saved is a penny got.

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

Well done is better than well said.

A penny saved is two pence clear.

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

Distrust & caution are the parents of security.

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.

Man [is a] tool-making animal.

God grant, that not only the Love of Liberty, but a thorough Knowledge of the Rights of Man, may pervade all the Nations of the Earth, so that a Philosopher may set his Foot anywhere on its Surface, and say, 'This is my Country.'

Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not performed with solicitious care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils.

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.

A lady asked Franklin: "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?". Franklin replied: "A Republic, if you can keep it."