Benjamin Franklin

Electricity experiments, founding father

Early Modern influential 213 sayings

Sayings by Benjamin Franklin

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

1734 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Better slip with foot than tongue.

1733 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A penny saved is a penny got.

1737 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

Unknown, likely late 18th century — Attributed, but precise source hard to pinpoint. Widely accepted as Franklin's sentiment.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Some are weatherwise, some are otherwise.

1735 — Poor Richard's Almanack
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The noblest question in the world is, What good may I do in it?

1726 — Letter to Cotton Mather
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

1779 — Often misquoted; actual variant: 'Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, the…
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

A man who lives on hope dies farting.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Fish and visitors stink after three days.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.

1776 — At the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The only things certain in life are death and taxes.

1789 — Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

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

1735 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.

1733 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

There never was a good war or a bad peace.

1773 — Letter to Josiah Quincy
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.

1779 — Letter to André Morellet
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

A penny saved is a penny earned.

1737 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

1736 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.

1746 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

1742 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Well done is better than well said.

1737 — From 'Poor Richard's Almanack'
Strange & Unusual Confirmed