sayings of poor richard

by benjamin franklin

1. love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge.

2. if a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. an investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

3. three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.

4. tart words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar.

5. glass, china, ad reputation are easily cracked and never well mended.

6. fish and visitors smell in three days.

7. he that lieth down with dogs shall rise with fleas.

8. one today is worth two tomorrows.

9. a truly great man will neither trample on a worm, nor sneak to an emperor.

10. a little neglect may breed mischief; for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; for want of a horse the rider was lost; for want of the rider the battle was lost.

11. if you would know the vaue of money, go and try to borrow some; he that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.

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

13. he that is of the opinion that money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

14. if a man could have half of his wishes, he would double his troubles.

15. 'tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright.

16. a small leak will sink a great ship.

17. a plowman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees.

18. keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterward.

19. nothing brings more pain that too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.


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