Benjamin Franklin's Famous Aphorisms and Quotations (1706 - 1790)

An aphorism is a short, concise statement expressing a wise or clever observation or a general truth. A variety of devices make aphorisms easy to remember. Some aphorisms contain rhymes or repeated words or sounds; others contain two phrases that present contrasting ideas using the same grammatical structure. For example, the contemporary aphorism 'when the going gets tough, the tough get going," contains repeated words and contrasting ideas.

Most of Benjamin Franklin's aphorisms are adapted from proverbs, anonymous traditional sayings. Franklin, who believed that clarity and brevity were two of the most important characteristics of good writing, rewrote the traditional sayings, making them short, direct, witty and memorable.

Franklin put an aphorism at the top or bottom of most pages in his almanacs. The aphorisms allowed Franklin to include many more messages in very little space. Because readers found them entertaining, Franklin's aphorisms contributed to the popularity of Poor Richard's Almanack. The Almanack was similar to the Old Framer's Almanac, which is still published (and widely consulted) today.

from Poor Richard's Almanack

Hunger is the best pickle .

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

Fish and visitors smell in three days.

Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.

If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun.

Necessity never made a good bargain.

God helps them that help themselves.

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

Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.

The rotten apple spoils the barrel.

A small leak will sink a great ship.

Drive thy business; let it not drive thee.

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge.

Genius without education is like silver in the mine.

The cat in gloves catches no mice.

Do you love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.

We must all hang together, or we shall all hang seperately.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

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

If you would know the value of money, try to borrow some.

Now that I have a sheep and cow everybody bids me good morning.

Don't throw stones at your neighbors', if you own windows are glass.

A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.

Remember, that time is money.

There never was a good war, or a bad peace.

But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

What is the use of a new-born child?

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