As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence. Benjamin Franklin More Quotes by Benjamin Franklin More Quotes From Benjamin Franklin Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain - and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin funny-inspirationalbullyingleadership This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other. Benjamin Franklin governmentpeopleyears I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers this morning what the rest of us said last night Benjamin Franklin beermorningnight The rotten apple spoils his companion. Benjamin Franklin rottenstandardsapples Speak ill of no man, but speak all the good you know of everybody. Benjamin Franklin speaksuccessmen I believe there is one Supreme most perfect being. [...] I believe He is pleased and delights in the happiness of those He has created; and since without virtue man can have no happiness in this world, I firmly believe He delights to see me virtuous. Benjamin Franklin perfectmenbelieve As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes; and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity. Benjamin Franklin doubtjesusthinking Two passions have powerful influence on the affairs of men: the love of power and the love of money. Benjamin Franklin passionpowerfulmen Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants. Benjamin Franklin tyrantsmenwar Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. Benjamin Franklin frugalrichlearning The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished. Benjamin Franklin knowinggoalfunny There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors. This is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry. Benjamin Franklin reallifecheating Be civil to all; serviceable to many; familiar with few; friend to one; enemy to none. Benjamin Franklin friendsrelationshiplife Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended, Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, "A republic, if you can keep it." Benjamin Franklin philadelphiaindependencedoctors Fart for freedom, fart for liberty—and fart proudly. Benjamin Franklin fartliberty Everybody's human-everybody makes mistakes. If you laugh it off and keep going and try to give it your best the next time around, people respect that. Benjamin Franklin mistakegivingpeople A Bible and a newspaper in every house, a good school in every district; all studied and appreciated as they merit; are the principal support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty. Benjamin Franklin patrioticsupportschool Most men die from the neck up at age twenty-five because they stop dreaming. Benjamin Franklin inspirational-lifedreammen Freedom of speech is the great bulwark of liberty; they prosper and die together: And it is the terror of traitors and oppressors, and a barrier against them. It produces excellent writers, and encourages men of fine genius. Benjamin Franklin freedom-of-speechlibertymen If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they be if without it? Benjamin Franklin wickedhuman-naturemen
