Benjamin Franklin Les Quotations

It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.

Flesh eating is unprovoked murder.

Hunger is the best pickle.

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

Speak little, do much.

Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.

The poor have little; beggars, none; the rich, too much; enough, not one.

Let the child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.

The rotten apple spoils his companion.

Reckless youth makes rueful age.

If principle is good for anything, it is worth living up to.

Little boats should keep near shore

Half-wits talk much, but say little.

All the little money that ever came into my hands was ever laid out in books.

When about 16 Years of Age, I happened to meet with a Book written by one Tryon, recommending a Vegetable Diet. I determined to go into it.... My refusing to eat Flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity....

Praise little, dispraise less.

He that would travel much, should eat little.

Great talkers are little doers.

Great talkers, little doers.

Little rogues easily become great ones.

He that is conscious of a stink in his breeches is [suspicious] of every wrinkle in another's nose.

That the vegetable creation should restore the air which is spoiled by the animal part of it, looks like a rational system, and seems to be of a piece with the rest.

Little leaks sink the ship.

In New England they once thought blackbirds useless, and mischievous to the corn. They made efforts to destroy them. The consequence was, the blackbirds were diminished; but a kind of worm, which devoured their grass, and which the blackbirds used to feed on, increased prodigiously; then, finding their loss in grass much greater than their saving in corn, they wished again for their blackbirds.

Fiction or fable allures to instruction.

A little Religion, and a little Honesty, goes a great way in Courts.

A little House well fill'd, a little Field well till'd, and a little Wife well will'd, are great Riches.

A little sturdiness when superiors are much in the wrong sometimes occasions consideration. And there is truth in the old saying that if you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you.

I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has? Answer. Commend her among her female acquaintances.

in eating ecology love murder vegan vegetarianism flesh eating is unprovoked murder.

The grand leap of the whale up the Fall of Niagara is esteemed, by all who have seen it, as one of the finest spectacles in nature.

A little neglect may breed great mischief.

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

He'll cheat without scruple, who can without fear.

In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

If time be of all things most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality, since lost time is never found again; and what we call time enough always proves little enough. Let us then be up and doing, and doing to a purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. expect nothing - get nothing! but expect something - get something!!

There is no little enemy

My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my singularity.

Hereafter, if you should observe an occasion to give your officers and friends a little more praise than is their due, and confess more fault than you can justly be charged with, you will only become the sooner for it, a great captain.

Rules to find out a fit Measure of Meat and Drink.

Rules of Health and long Life, and to preserve from Malignant Fevers, and Sickness in general.

Let thy Child's first Lesson be Obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt

Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second may be what thou wilt.

He who shall introduce into the public affairs the principles of a primitive Christianity, will change the face of the world.

He who shall introduce into public affairs the principles of Christianity, will revolutionize the world

Some punishment seems preparing for a people who are ungratefully abusing the best constitution and the best King any nation was ever blessed with, intent on nothing but luxury, licentiousness, power, places, pensions, and plunder; while the ministry, divided in their counsels, with little regard for each other, worried by perpetual oppositions, in continual apprehension of changes, intent on securing popularity in case they should lose favor, have for some years past had little time or inclination to attend to our small affairs, whose remoteness makes them appear even smaller.

Forwarn'd, forearm'd, unless in the case of Cuckolds, who are often forearm'd before warn'd

Squeamish stomachs cannot eat without pickles.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure, and trouble therewith.

I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America... He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

A man is sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

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

They that are on their guard and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked than the supine, secure and negligent.

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

If man could have half his wishes he would double his troubles

If God blesses a Man, his Bitch brings forth Pigs.

Where carcasses are, eagles will gather, And where good laws are, much people flock thither