Poor Richard Quotes

The noblest question in the world is: 'What good may I do in it?' ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

The cunning man steals a horse, the wise man lets him alone. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Observe all men, thyself most. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Remember that a good example is the best sermon. ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now. ~ Benjamin Franklin

A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good. ~ Benjamin Franklin

There are lazy minds as well as lazy bodies. ~ Benjamin Franklin

An honest Man will receive neither Money nor Praise that is not his due. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

If you have no Honey in your Pot, have some in your Mouth. ~ Benjamin Franklin

At the working man's house, hunger looks in but dares not enter. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Plough deep while sluggards sleep. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Are you angry that others disappoint you? Remember you cannot depend upon yourself. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Wish not so much to live long as to live well. ~ Benjamin Franklin

When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to you, look on his mouth. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Great Modesty often hides great Merit. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The used key is always bright. ~ Benjamin Franklin

For Age and Want save while you may; No morning Sun lasts a whole day. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou owest, all thou hast, nor all thou canst. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Get what you can, and what you get hold; 'tis the Stone that will turn all your Lead into Gold. ~ Benjamin Franklin

What's poor Richard ever done to you except get himself born first?"

The blue eyes were speculative. "Ill-calculated," he agreed. "But not necessarily final. ~ Dorothy Dunnett

It is better to take many injuries than to give one. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

The people heard it, and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Would you persuade, speak of interest, not of reason. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Three things are men most likely to be cheated in, a horse, a wig, and a wife. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

Who is strong? He that can conquer his bad habits. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Bargaining has neither friends nor relations. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

Fear not death for the sooner we die, the longer we shall be immortal. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Only trust thyself, and another shall not betray thee. ~ William Penn

The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee. Poor Richard ~ Benjamin Franklin

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright ~ Benjamin Franklin

Blame-all and Praise-all are two blockheads. ~ Benjamin Franklin

An ounce of wit that is bought, Is worth a pound that is taught. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend,
but thou may'st a friend into an enemy. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Let thy vices die before thee. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Industry pays debts, while despair increases them. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Men and Melons are hard to know. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

The doors of wisdom are never shut. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Lost time is never found again, and what we call time enough, always proves little enough. ~ Benjamin Franklin

He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas. ~ Benjamin Franklin

None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge himself in an error. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Poverty wants some things, Luxury many things, Avarice all things ~ Benjamin Franklin

Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The honest Man takes Pains, and then enjoys Pleasures; the knave takes Pleasure, and then suffers Pains. ~ Benjamin Franklin

A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Tis against some mens principle to pay interest, and seems against others interest to pay the principle. ~ Benjamin Franklin

I have heard that nothing gives an Author so great Pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The use of money is all the advantage there is in having it. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Creditors have better memories than debtors. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands. ~ Benjamin Franklin

'Tis true there is much to be done, ... but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects, for constant dropping wears away stones ... and little strokes fell great oaks, as Poor Richard says ... ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

Hold your Council before Dinner; the full Belly hates Thinking as well as Acting. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

If you want to keep a secret from an enemy, tell it not to a friend. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. ~ Benjamin Franklin

If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing, as Poor Richard says; and indeed so does he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price. ~ Benjamin Franklin

A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose to the grindstone. ~ Benjamin Franklin

We must eat to live, and not live to eat. ~ Moliere

The busy man has few idle visitors; to the boiling pot the flies come not. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Philosophy as well as foppery often changes fashion. ~ Benjamin Franklin

He that waits upon fortune, is never sure of a dinner. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Mary's mouth cost her nothing for she never opens it but at others' expense. ~ Benjamin Franklin

So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own business; but to these we must add frugality if we would make our industry more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a grout at last. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

Handle your tools without mittens. ~ Benjamin Franklin

For once you are going to hear a dream, a dream that I have made sound ... I dreamed all this; never could my poor head have invented such a thing. ~ Richard Wagner

Better slip with foot than tongue. ~ Benjamin Franklin

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

To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish. ~ Benjamin Franklin

If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Did you ever feel happy in church?" "Naw. I didn't want to. Nobody but poor folks get happy in church." "But you are poor, Bigger."
Again Bigger's eyes lit with a bitter and feverish pride. "I ain't that poor. ~ Richard Wright

The Honey is sweet, but the Bee has a Sting. ~ Benjamin Franklin

When Wine enters, out goes the Truth. ~ Benjamin Franklin

If you wouldn't live long, live well; for folly and wickedness shorten life. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead. - BEN FRANKLIN, POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK T ~ Neil Gaiman

Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Now I've a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow. ~ Benjamin Franklin

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it. ~ Benjamin Franklin

The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it. ~ Benjamin Franklin