Proverbs of Benjamin Franklin
Upper ES / ELA
Wisdom, Principle, Truth
Give students the following directions: Use a graphic organizer that lists the beginnings
of phrases for some of Franklin’s proverbs, and complete the proverb in a way that
makes sense to you.
Have students number the proverbs. Read the proverbs aloud and as you do so, have
them underline words that are unfamiliar. Discuss the format of the proverbs: most
seem to have two parts. Share results from the Launch Activity.
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Poor Richard’s Almanack was a pamphlet published by Benjamin Franklin once a year
from 1732 to 1738. He wrote that the author was “Richard Sanders.” The almanac
contained the calendar, weather predictions, poems, and household advice. Benjamin
Franklin included many proverbs, which are short sayings that contain a traditional truth.
He never claimed to have made up all these ideas; he just put them into his own words.
He felt that how people used these sayings to make their lives better was more
important than who made them up.
Discuss unfamiliar words and words that have dual meanings, until all are comfortable.
Read the proverbs aloud. As they are read, have students circle those that they relate to
the most and put a question mark next to those that don’t really make sense to them.
Then, ask students to work independently to look at the proverbs they circled, and
choose two that spoke the truth to them. They should then make notes about what they
think each means, and why they chose each of the two proverbs.
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 Which of the proverbs seems most important to you? (round-robin
response)
 Why is the proverb you chose important? (spontaneous discussion)
 How do proverbs teach behavior? Use examples from the text.
 Based on his proverbs, what ideas or values do you think were important
to Franklin?
 Which proverbs say something about learning or education? What advice
does Franklin give about learning?
 One of the proverbs (# 8) says, “The doors of wisdom are never shut.”
What does this say about the nature of wisdom?
 How does the format of a proverb help communicate the bit of wisdom it
contains?
 Now that we have thought about the meaning of Franklin’s proverbs,
describe a time that you lived or worked by one of the proverbs.
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Take a few minutes for students to list proverbs that adults use to give advice to
children. Then share in the larger group setting.
After reading the proverbs of Benjamin Franklin, write a letter to the editor of our
school’s weekly newsletter in which you identify what a proverb is, and recommend
whether you think a proverb should be included in each newsletter, and why. Support
your opinion with reference to the text.
(LDC Task#: 6 )
Invite participants to talk in pairs for two minutes to share thoughts about what the
writing task is asking, and how they might respond.
Introduce the graphic organizer provided as a way for students to organize thoughts and
structure their opinion letter, and to select quotes to use.
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Challenge all to draft a letter that explains what a proverb is and persuades the reader
that proverbs provide lessons to make life better. Remind students to write in the form of
a letter to the editor.
Have participants work in pairs to read their first drafts aloud to each other with
emphasis on reader as creator and editor. Listener says back one point heard clearly
and asks one question for clarification. Switch roles. Give time for full revisions resulting
in a second draft.
Once the second draft is complete, have participants work in groups of three-four and
this time take turns reading each other’s second drafts slowly and silently, marking
spelling and grammar errors they find. (Have dictionaries available for reference.) Take
this opportunity to clarify/reteach any specific grammar strategies you have identified
your students needing. Give time for full revisions resulting in a third and final draft.
Publish the final letters by sending them by email to the editor of the newsletter.
Charlotte Vlasis
Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts
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Proverbs of Benjamin Franklin
Poor Richard’s Almanak was a pamphlet published by Benjamin Franklin once a year
from 1732 to 1738. He wrote that the author was “Richard Sanders.” The almanac
contained the calendar, weather predictions, poems, and household advice. Benjamin
Franklin included many proverbs, which are short sayings that contain a traditional truth.
He never claimed to have made up all these ideas; he just put them into his own words.
He felt that how people used these sayings to make their lives better was more
important than who made them up.
Read Franklin’s proverbs below:
 We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.
 Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
 By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.
 Well done is better than well said.
 Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God.
 Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75.
 We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang
separately.
 The doors of wisdom are never shut.
 When you're finished changing, you're finished.
 One today is worth two tomorrows.
 Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
 There are no gains without pains.
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Seminar Prep: Finish the Proverbs
The beginnings of several of Benjamin Franklin’s proverbs are listed below. Finish the proverbs by adding an ending .
1. Well done is better than
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2. The doors of wisdom are
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3. Early to bed and early to rise makes a man
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4. One today is worth
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5. Diligence is the mother of
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6. Love your neighbor, yet don’t
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7. Anger is never without a reason, but seldom
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8. He that lies down with dogs shall rise up with
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Organizing Your Writing
Your purpose for writing this letter. What do you want to achieve?
What is a proverb? Why did Benjamin Franklin put them in his newspaper?
Examples of proverbs
Reason(s) why our school should include proverbs in the newsletter
Restate your purpose. Be persuasive.
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