Ben Franklin Quotes "Without Freedom of Thought, there can be no such thing as Wisdom; and no such thing as public
Liberty, without Freedom of Speech." - The New England Courant, July 9, 1722
"It is that particular wise and good God, who is the Author and Owner of our system, that I propose for the
Object of my praise and adoration. For I conceive that He has in Himself some of those passions He has
planted in us, and that, since He has given us reason whereby we are capable of observing His wisdom
in the Creation, He is not above caring for us, being pleas'd wit our praise and offended when we slight
Him, or neglect His Glory. I conceive for many reasons that He is a good Being, and as I should be happy
to have so wise, good and powerful a Being my Friend, let me consider in what Manner I shall make
myself most acceptable to Him." - Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, November 20, 1728
"Being mindful that before I address the Deity my soul ought to be calm and serene, free from passion
and perturbation, or otherwise elevated with rational joy and pleasure, I wrought to use a countenance
that expresses a filial respect, mixed with a kind of smiling that signifies inward joy and satisfaction and
admiration." - Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, November 20, 1728
"O Creator, O Father, I believe that Thou are Good, and Thou art pleas'd with the pleasure of Thy
children.
Praised be Thy Name forever.
By Thy Power hast thou made the glorious Sun, with his attending worlds; from the energy of Thy mighty
Will they first received their prodigious motion, and by Thy Wisdom hast Thou prescribed the wondrous
laws by which they move.
Praised be Thy Name forever.
By Thy Wisdom hast thou formed all things, Thou hast created man, bestowing life and reason, and
plac'd him in dignity superior to Thy other earthly Creatures.
Praised be Thy Name forever.
Thy Wisdom, Thy Power, and Thy GOODNESS are every where clearly seen; in the air and in the water,,
in the heavens and on the earth; Thou providest for the various winged fowl, and the innumerable
inhabitants of the water; Thou givest cold and heat, rain and sunshine in their season, and to the fruits of
the earth increase.
Praised be Thy Name forever.
I believe Thou hast given life to Thy creatures that they might live, and art not delighted with violent death
and bloody sacrifices.
Praised be Thy Name forever.
Thou abhorrest in Thy creatures treachery and deceit, malice, revenge, Intemperance and every other
hurtful Vice; but Thou art a Lover of justice and sincerity, of friendship, benevolence and every virtue.
Thou art my Friend, my Father, and my Benefactor.
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Praised be Thy Name, O God, forever. Amen." - Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, November 20,
1728
"That I may be preserved from atheism and infidelity, impiety and profaneness, and in my addresses to
Thee carefully avoid irreverence and ostentation, formality and odious hypocrisy, Help me, O Father." Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, November 20, 1728
"And forasmuch as ingratitude is one of the most odious of vices, let me not be unmindful gratefully to
acknowledge the favours I receive from Heaven… For all Thy innumerable benefits; For life and reason,
and the use of speech, for health and joy and every pleasant hour, my Good God, I thank Thee." Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, November 20, 1728
"I pronounce it as certain that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly
virtuous." - The Busy-Body, #3, 1728
"Mankind naturally and generally love to be flatter'd: Whatever sooths our Pride, and tends to exalt our
Species above the rest of the Creation, we are pleas'd with and easily believe, when ungrateful Truths
shall be with the utmost Indignation rejected. "What! bring ourselves down to an Equality with the Beasts
of the Field! With the meanest part of the Creation! 'Tis insufferable!" But, (to use a Piece of common
Sense) our Geese are but Geese tho' we may think 'em Swans; and Truth will be Truth tho' it sometimes
prove mortifying and distasteful." - A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain, 1725
"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." - Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, 1728
"It might be judged an affront to your understandings should I go about to prove this first principle: the
existence of a Deity and that He is the Creator of the universe; for that would suppose you ignorant of
what all mankind in all ages have agreed in. I shall therefore proceed to observe that He must be a being
of infinite wisdom (as appears in His admirable order and disposition of things), whether we consider the
heavenly bodies, the stars and planets and their wonderful regular motions; or this earth, compounded of
such an excellent mixture of all the elements; or the admirable structure of animate bodies of such infinite
variety and yet every one adapted to its nature and the way of life is to be placed in, whether on earth, in
the air, or in the water, and so exactly that the highest and most exquisite human reason cannot find a
fault; and say this would have been better so, or in such a manner which whoever considers attentively
and thoroughly will be astonished and swallowed up in admiration." - A Lecture on the Providence of
God in the Government of the World, 1730
"That the Deity is a being of great goodness appears in His giving life to so many creatures, each of
which acknowledges it a benefit by its unwillingness to leave it; in His providing plentiful sustenance for
them all and making those things that are most useful, most common and easy to be had, such as water
(necessary for almost every creature to drink); air (without which few could subsist); the inexpressible
benefits of light and sunshine to almost all animals in general; and to men, the most useful vegetables,
such as corn, the most useful of metals, as iron, & c.; the most useful animals as horses, oxen, and
sheep, He has made easiest to raise or procure in quantity or numbers; each of which particulars, if
considered seriously and carefully, would fill us with the highest love and affection. That He is a being of
infinite power appears in His being able to form and compound such vast masses of matter (as this earth,
and the sun, and innumerable stars and plan ets), and give them such prodigious motion and yet so to
govern them in their greatest velocity as that they shall not fly out of their appointed bounds not dash one
against another for their mutual destruction. But it is easy to conceive His power, when we are convinced
of His infinite knowledge and wisdom. For, if weak and foolish creatures as we are, but knowing the
nature of a few things, can produce such wonderful effects, . . . what power must He possess, Who not
only knows the nature of everything in the universe but can make things of new natures with the greatest
ease and at His pleasure! Agreeing, then, that the world was a first made by a Being of infinite wisdom,
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goodness, and power, which Being we call God." - A Lecture on the Providence of God in the
Government of the World, 1730
"That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of
Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought Religion necessary for
the well ordering and well-being of Society, and accordingly have been ever
careful to encourage and protect the Ministers of it, paying them the highest
publick Honours, that their Doctrines might thereby meet with the greater Respect
among the common People." - On government and religion, 1730
Benjamin Franklin
"The happy State of Matrimony is, undoubtedly, the surest and most lasting
Foundation of Comfort and Love; the Source of all that endearing Tenderness and
Affection which arises from Relation and Affinity; the grand Point of Property; the
Cause of all good Order in the World, and what alone preserves it from the utmost
Confusion; and, to sum up all, the Appointment of infinite Wisdom for these great
and good Purposes." - Rules and Maxims for Promoting Matrimonial
Happiness, October 8, 1730
"A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733
"Whate'ers begun in anger ends in shame." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1734
"And as to the Cares, they are chiefly what attend the bringing up of Children; and I would ask any Man
who has experienced it, if they are not the most delightful Cares in the World; and if from that Particular
alone, he does not find the Bliss of a double State much greater, instead of being less than he expected."
- Reply to someone's advice, March 4, 1734
"Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead." - Poor Richard's Almanack, July, 1735
"Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." - Poor Richard's Almanack,
October, 1735
"Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason." - Poor Richard's Almanack,
1735
"God helps them that help themselves." - Poor Richard's Almanack, June, 1736
"God heals and the doctor takes the fees." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1736
"A countryman between 2 Lawyers, is like a fish between two cats." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1737
"A penny saved is twopence clear." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1737
"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1738
"Trust thy self, and another shall not betray thee." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1739
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"Have you something to do to-morrow; do it to-day." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1742
"How many observe Christ's birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays
than Commandments." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1743
"Wish not so much to live long as to live well." - Poor Richard's Almanack, 1746
"Strive to be the greatest man in your country, and you may be disappointed. Strive to be
the best and you may succeed: he may well win the race that runs by himself." - Poor
Richard's Almanack, 1747
"Remember that time is money." - Advice to a Young Tradesman, 1748
"It is the duty of mankind on all suitable occasions to acknowledge their dependence on the
Divine Being... [that] Almighty God would mercifully interpose and still the rage of war
among the nations... [and that] He would take this province under his protection, confound
the designs and defeat the attempts of its enemies, and unite our hearts and strengthen our
hands in every undertaking that may be for the public good, and for our defense and
security in this time of danger.
I never doubted, for instance, the existence of the Deity; that he made the world, and
governed it by his Providence; that the most acceptable service of God was the doing good
to man; that our souls are immortal; and that all crime will be punished, and virtue
rewarded either here or hereafter.
Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the
laws of God and nature.
The pleasures of this world are rather from God's goodness than our own merit." - As
Governor, proposal for Pennsylvania's First Day of Fasting, 1748
"Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." - Advice given to a
young man, 1748
"A Spoonful of Honey will catch more Flies than a Gallon of Vinegar." - Poor Richard's
Almanack, 1748
"The good Education of Youth has been esteemed by wise Men in all Ages, as the surest
Foundation of the Happiness both of private Families and of Common-wealths. Almost all
Governments have therefore made it a principal Object of their Attention, to establish and
endow with proper Revenues, such Seminaries of Learning, as might supply the succeeding
Age with Men qualified to serve the Publick with Honour to themselves, and to their
Country." - Proposals for Educating Youth in Pennsylvania, 1749
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"History will also afford frequent, opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion,
from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private
persons; the mischiefs of superstition, and the excellency of the Christian religion above all
others, ancient or modern." - Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in
Pennsylvania, 1749
"History will also give Occasion to expatiate on the Advantage of Civil Orders and
Constitutions, how Men and their Properties are protected by joining in Societies and
establishing Government; their Industry encouraged and rewarded, Arts invented, and Life
made more comfortable: The Advantages of Liberty, Mischiefs of Licentiousness, Benefits
arising from good Laws and a due Execution of Justice, etc. Thus may the first Principles of
sound Politicks be fix'd in the Minds of Youth." - Proposals for Educating Youth in
Pennsylvania, 1749
"Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is." - Poor Richard's Almanack,
1749
"Little strokes fell great oaks." - Poor Richard's Almanack, August,
1750
"I think with you, that nothing is of more importance for the public weal,
than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue… I think also,
general virtue is more probably to be expected and obtained from the
education of youth, than from the exhortation of adult persons; bad
habits and vices of the mind being, like diseases of the body, more easily
prevented than cured.
I think, moreover, that talents for the education of youth are the gift of God; and that he on
whom they are bestowed, whenever a way is opened for the use of them, is as strongly
called as if he heard a voice from heaven." - Letter to Dr. Samuel Johnson, first
President of King's College (now Columbia University), August 23, 1750
"The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the
mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to
become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often
points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast
variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want
of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn: 1st, Foresight, which looks a little into
futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action ... 2nd, Circumspection,
which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: - the relation of the several
Pieces, and their situations; ... 3rd, Caution, not to make our moves too hastily..." - The
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Moral of Chess - Article, 1750
"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. St. Monday
and St. Tuesday, will soon cease to be holidays. Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the
old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable
precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their
circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to
provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them." Letter to Collinson, May 9, 1753
"I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other
children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repeated
weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our
Creator.
You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven
by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in
duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards... Even the mixed, imperfect pleasures
we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit; how much moresuch
happiness of heaven!
For my part I have not the vanity to think I deserve it... but content myself in submitting to
the will and disposal of that God who made me, who has hitherto preserved and blessed
me, and in whose fatherly goodness I may well confide, that he will ever make me
miserable; and that even the afflictions I may at any time suffer shall tend to my benefit.
The faith you mention has certainly its use in the world. I do not desire to see it diminished,
nor would I endeavor to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good
works, than I have generally seen it; I mean real good works; works of kindness, charity,
mercy, and public spirit; not holiday-keeping, sermon-reading or hearing; performing
church ceremonies, or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments...
The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but, if
men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on
being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produce any fruit." - Letter to
Joseph Huey, June 6, 1753
"It would be a neglect of that justice which is due to the physicians and surgeons of this
hospital, not to acknowledge that their care and skill, and their punctual and regular
attendance, under the Divine Blessing, has been a principal means of advancing this charity
to the flourishing state in which we have now the pleasure to view it.
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Relying on the continuance of the Favour of Heaven, upon the future endeavors of all who
may be concerned in the management of the institution, for its further advancement, we
close this account with the abstract of a sermon, preached before the Governors..." - Some
Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital from its first rise, to the beginning of the
fifth month, May, 1754
"In the year of Christ, 1755… This building, by the bounty of the Government and of many
private persons, was piously founded, for the relief of the sick and miserable. May the God
of mercies bless the undertaking!" - Cornerstone Inscription on Pennsylvania Hospital,
May, 1754
"I condole with you, we have lost a most dear and valuable relation, but it is the will of God
and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life;
'tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be
dead: Why should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? A new member
added to their happy society? We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while they can
afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow creatures,
is a kind and benevolent act of God -- when they become unfit for these purposes and
afford us pain rather than pleasure -- instead of an aid, become an incumbrance and answer
none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a
way is provided by which we may get rid of them. Death is that way. We ourselves
prudently choose a partial death. In some cases a mangled painful limb, which can not be
restored, we willingly cut off -- He who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely since the pain
goes with it, and he that quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains and possibilities
of pains and diseases it was liable to, or capable of making him suffer." - Letter to
Elizabeth Hubbart, when she was grieving at the death of her stepfather John
Franklin, who was Benjamin's brother, February 22, 1756
"Life, like a dramatic piece, should… finish handsomely. Being now in the last act, I began to
cast about for something fit to end with… I settle a colony on the Ohio… to settle in that fine
country a strong body of religious and industrious people!... Might it not greatly facilitate
the introduction of pure religion among the heathen, if we could, by such a colony, show
them a better sample of Christians than they commonly see in our Indian traders?" - Letter
to George Whitefield, July 2, 1756
"This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much
upon your own industry, and frugality, and prudence, though excellent things, for they may
all be blasted without the blessing of Heaven; and therefore, ask that blessing humbly, and
be not uncharitable to those that at the present seem to want it, but comfort and help
them. Remember, Job suffered, and was afterwards prosperous." - The Way to Wealth,
1757
"Work as if you were to live 100 Years, Pray as if you were to die To-morrow." - Poor
Richard's Almanack, 1757
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"I have read your Manuscript with some Attention. By the Arguments it contains against the
Doctrine of a particular Providence, tho’ you allow a general Providence, you strike at the
Foundation of all Religion: For without the Belief of a Providence that takes Cognizance of,
guards and guides and may favour particular Persons, there is no Motive to Worship a Deity,
to fear its Displeasure, or to pray for its Protection. I will not enter into any Discussion of
your Principles, tho’ you seem to desire it; At present I shall only give you my Opinion that
tho’ your Reasonings are subtle, and may prevail with some Readers, you will not succeed
so as to change the general Sentiments of Mankind on that Subject, and the Consequence
of printing this Piece will be a great deal of Odium drawn upon your self, Mischief to you and
no Benefit to others. He that spits against the Wind, spits in his own Face. But were you to
succeed, do you imagine any Good would be done by it? You your self may find it easy to
live a virtuous Life without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear
Perception of the Advantages of Virtue and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a
Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how
great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of
inexperienc’d and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of
Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice
of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security; And perhaps you are
indebted to her originally that is to your Religious Education, for the Habits of Virtue upon
which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent Talents of
reasoning on a less hazardous Subject, and thereby obtain Rank with our most distinguish’d
Authors. For among us, it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots that a Youth to be
receiv’d into the C ompany of Men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother. I
would advise you therefore not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece
before it is seen by any other Person, whereby you will save yourself a great deal of
Mortification from the Enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of Regret
and Repentance. If Men are so wicked as we now see them with Religion what would they
be if without it?" - Letter to Unknown Recipient, December 13, 1757
"He that lives upon hope will die fasting." - Poor Richard's Almanack, Preface, 1758
"He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing." - In his writings, 1758
"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve
neither liberty nor safety." - Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
"Your frequently repeated Wishes and Prayers for my Eternal as well as temporal Happiness
are very obliging. I can only thank you for them, and offer you mine in return." - Letter to
George Whitefield, June 19, 1764
"It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of our inhabitants. From
being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing
religious, so that one could not walk thro' the town in an evening without hearing psalms
sung in different families of every street." - Autobiography, on the effects of the
ministry of evangelist George Whitefield, 1764
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"I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way
of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them
out of it. In my youth I traveled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more
public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of
course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did
for themselves, and became richer." - Relating to prices and the poor, 1766
"I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but
leading or driving them out of it." - On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor,
November 29, 1766
"To the haranguers of the populace among the ancients, succeed among the moderns your
writers of political pamphlets and news-papers, and your coffee-house talkers." - Reply to
Coffee House Orators, April 9, 1767
"Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy." - Letter to John Alleyne, August 9,
1768
"Finally, 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 Neighbours. 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 favour, as a Reward for his innocent
Life, and virtuous Industry." - Positions to be Examined, April 4, 1769
"A disposition to abolish slavery prevails in North America, that many of Pennsylvanians
have set their slaves at liberty, and that even the Virginia Assembly have petitioned the
King for permission to make a law for preventing the importation of more into that colony.
This request, however, will probably not be granted as their former laws of that kind have
always been repealed." - Letter to Rev. Dean Woodward, April 10, 1773
"No nation was ever ruined by trade, even seemingly the most disadvantageous." Principles of Trade, 1774
"Moses lifting up his wand, and dividing the Red Sea, and Pharaoh in his chariot
overwhelmed with the waters. This motto: 'Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.'" Proposed Seal of the United States, July, 1776
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"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately
(attributed)." - At the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
July 4, 1776
"It is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all
mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own."
- Letter to Samuel Cooper, May 1, 1777
"Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive
Christianity will change the face of the world." - Letter to the French ministry, March,
1778
"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." March, 1778
"George Washington, Commander of the American armies, who like Joshua of old,
commanded the sun and the moon to stand still, and they obeyed him." - A toast at a
dinner of foreign dignitaries at Versailles, after the British foreign minister
toasted King George III, likening him to the sun, and the French minister toasted
Louis XVI, likening him to the moon, 1781
"The almost general mediocrity of fortune that prevails in America obliging its people to
follow some business for subsistence, those vices that arise usually from idleness are in
great measure prevented. Industry and constant employment are great preservatives of
the morals and virtue of a nation. Hence bad examples to youth are more rare in America;
which must be a comfortable consideration to parents. Hence bad examples to youth are
more rare in America, which must be a comfortable consideration to parents. To this may be
truly added, that serious religion, under its various denominations, is not only tolerated, but
respected and practiced.
Atheism is unknown there; Infidelity rare and secret; so that persons may live to a great
age in that country without having their piety shocked by meeting with either an Atheist or
an Infidel.
And the Divine Being seems to have manifested his approbation of the mutual forbearance
and kindness with which the different sects treat each other; by the remarkable prosperity
with which he has been pleased to favor the whole country." - Information for Those
Who Would Remove to America, September, 1782
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"The married state is, after all our jokes, the happiest, being conformable to our natures.
Man and woman have each of them qualities and tempers in which the other is deficient and
which in union contribute to the common felicity. Single and separate, they are not the
complete human being; they are like the odd halves of scissors; they cannot answer the end
of their formation." - Letter to John Sargent, January 27, 1783
"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Letter to Benjamin Vaughn, March 14,
1783
"There never was a good war or a bad peace." - Letter to Josiah Quincy III, September
11, 1783
"All the property that is necessary to a Man, for the Conservation of the Individual and the
Propagation of the Species, is his natural Right, which none can justly deprive him of: But
all Property superfluous to such purposes is the Property of the Publick, who, by their Laws,
have created it, and who may therefore by other laws dispose of it, whenever the Welfare of
the Publick shall demand such Disposition. He that does not like civil Society on these
Terms, let him retire and live among Savages. He can have no right to the benefits of
Society, who will not pay his Club towards the Support of it." - Letter to Robert Morris,
December 25, 1783
"Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old
Inhabitants are not jealous of them; the Laws protect them sufficiently so that they have no
need of the Patronage of great Men; and every one will enjoy securely the Profits of his
Industry. But if he does not bring a Fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to
live." - Information for possible immigrants to America, February, 1784
"Let us, therefore, beware of being lulled in to a dangerous security; and of being enervated
and impoverished by luxury: of being weakened by internal contentions and divisions; of
being shamefully extravagant in contracting private debts, while we are backward in
discharging honourably those of the public: of neglect in military exercises and discipline,
and in providing stores of arms and munition of war, to be ready on occasion: for all these
are circumstances that give confidence to enemies, and diffidence to friends; and the
expenses required to prevent a war, are much lighter than those that will, if not prevented,
be absolutely necessary to maintain it." - Letter to Charles Thomson, May 13, 1784
"Every Man who comes among us, and takes up a piece of Land, becomes a Citizen, and by
our Constitution has a Voice in Elections, and a share in the Government of the Country." Letter to William Straham, August 19, 1784
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"But they have two other Rights; those of sitting when they please, and as long as they
please, in which methinks they have the advantage of your Parliament; for they cannot be
dissolved by the Breath of a Minister, or sent packing as you were the other day, when it
was your earnest desire to have remained longer together." - Letter to William Straham,
August 19, 1784
"I am now entering on my 78th year… If I live to see this peace concluded, I shall beg leave
to remind the Congress of their promise, then to dismiss me. I shall be happy to sing with
old Simeon, "Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy
salvation." - Letter to Robert R. Livingston, December 5, 1784
"They are of the People, and return again to mix with the People, having no more durable
preeminence than the different Grains of Sand in an Hourglass. Such an Assembly cannot
easily become dangerous to Liberty. They are the Servants of the People, sent together to
do the People's Business, and promote the public Welfare; their Powers must be sufficient,
or their Duties cannot be performed. They have no profitable Appointments, but a mere
Payment of daily Wages, such as are scarcely equivalent to their Expences; so that, having
no Chance for great Places, and enormous Salaries or Pensions, as in some Countries, there
is no triguing or bribing for Elections." - Letter to George Whatley, May 23, 1785
"I beg I may not be understood to infer, that our general convention was divinely inspired
when it formed the new federal constitution, merely because that constitution has been
unreasonably and vehemently opposed; yet, I must own, I have so much faith in the
general government of the world by Providence, that I can hardly conceive a transaction of
such momentous importance to the welfare of millions now existing, and to exist in the
posterity of a great nation, should be suffered to pass without being in some degree
influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent, and beneficent Ruler, in
whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being." - A Comparison of the
Conduct of the Ancient Jews and of the Anti-Federalists in the United States of
America, 1787
"In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily
prayers in this room for Divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were
graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed
frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we
owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future
national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we
no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more
convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow
cannot fall to the Ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without
his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly be lieve this. I also believe that without His
concurring aid, we shall succeed in the political building no better than the builders of
Babel; we shall be divided by our little, partial local interests; our projects will be
confounded; and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a byword down to future ages.
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And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of
establishing government by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war, or conquest. I
therefore beg leave to move that, henceforth, prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven
and its blessing on our deliberation be held in this assembly every morning before we
proceed to business." - To Colleagues at the Constitutional Convention, when they
were at an impasse, 1787
"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious,
they have more need of masters." - Letter to the Abbes Chalut and Arnaud, April 17,
1787
"I've lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing Proofs I see of this
Truth — That God governs in the Affairs of Men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been
assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain
who build it. I firmly believe this, — and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we
shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be
divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves
shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages." - Speech to the
Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787
"In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such;
because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government
but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that
this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as
other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need
despotic government, being incapable of any other." - Speech to the Constitutional
Convention, June 28, 1787
"Remember me affectionately to good Dr. Price and to the honest heretic Dr. Priestly. I do
not call him honest by way of distinction; for I think all the heretics I have known have been
virtuous men. They have the virtue of fortitude or they would not venture to own their
heresy; and they cannot afford to be deficient in any of the other virtues, as that would give
advantage to their many enemies; and they have not like orthodox sinners, such a number
of friends to excuse or justify them. Do not, however mistake me. It is not to my good
friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that has brought
upon him the character of heretic." - Letter to Benjamin Vaughn, October 24, 1788
"If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety
of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it
means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own
myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter
the law and shall cheerfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the
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privilege of not being abused myself." - An Account of the Supremest Court of
Judicature in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court of the Press, September 12, 1789
"Slavery is such an atrocious debasement of human nature, that its very extirpation, if not
performed with solicitous care, may sometimes open a source of serious evils." - An
Address to the Public, November, 1789
"Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises
permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes." Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, November 13, 1789
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
- Letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, November 13, 1789
"In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to
subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it,
mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will now and then
peek out and show itself." - Autobiography, 1789
"This gave me occasion to observe, that when Men are employ'd they are
best contented. For on the Days they work'd they were good-natur'd and
cheerful; and with the consciousness of having done a good Days work they spent the
Evenings jollily; but on the idle Days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault
with their Pork, the Bread, etc. and in continual ill-humour." - Autobiography, 1789
"Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve." Autobiography, 1789
"Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred, to a state of
affluence and some degree of reputation in the world, and having gone so far through life
with a considerable share of felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the
blessing of God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find some of
them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be imitated." - Autobiography,
1789
"And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the
mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind providence, which lead me to the means I
used and gave them success. My belief of this induces me to hope, though I must not
presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in continuing that
happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may experience as others have
done; the complexion of my future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to
bless to us even our afflictions." - Autobiography, 1789
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"This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued Protestants
through the reign of Queen Mary, when they were sometimes in danger of trouble on
account of their zeal against popery. They had got an English Bible, and to conceal and
secure it, it was fastened open with tapes under and within the cover of a joint-stool. When
my great-great-grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the joint-stool upon his
knees, turning over the leaves then under the tapes. One of the children stood at the door
to give notice if he saw the apparitor coming, who was an officer of the spiritual court. In
that case the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible remained concealed
under it as before. This anecdote I had from my uncle Benjamin. The family continued all of
the Church of England till about the end of Charles the Second's reign, when some of the
ministers that had been outed for non-conformity holding conventicles in Northamptonshire,
Benjamin and Josiah adhered to them, and so continued all their lives: the rest of the family
remained with the Episcopal Church." - Autobiography, 1789
"My mother, the second wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of Peter Folger, one of the first
settlers of New England, of whom honorable mention is made by Cotton Mather, in his
church history of that country, entitled Magnolia Christi Americana, as "a godly, learned
Englishman," if I remember the words rightly." - Autobiography, 1789
"From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was
ever laid out in books. Pleased with the Pilgrim's Progress, my first collection was of John
Bunyan's works in separate little volumes." - Autobiography, 1789
"Human Felicity is produced not so much by great Pieces of good Fortune that seldom
happen, as by little Advantages that occur every Day." - Autobiography, 1789
"I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, "Without vanity I may say," &c., but
some vain thing immediately followed. Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share
they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it, being
persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within
his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a
man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life." - Autobiography,
1789
"From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was
ever laid out in books." - Autobiography, 1789
"This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, for which I set
apart an hour or two each day, and thus repair'd in some degree the loss of the learned
education my father once intended for me. Reading was the only amusement I allow'd
myself. I spent no time in taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind; and my industry in my
business continu'd as indefatigable as it was necessary." - Autobiography, 1789
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"1. Temperance... drink not to elevation; 2. Silence... avoid trifling conversation; 3. Order... Let all your
things have their places; 4. Resolution... perform without fail what you resolve; 5. Frugality... i.e. waste
nothing; 6. Industry... Lose no time, be always employ'd; 7. Sincerity... Use no hurtful deceit, think
innocently; 8. Justice... Wrong none by doing injuries; 9. Moderation... Avoid extremes, forbear resenting;
10. Cleanliness... Tolerate no uncleanliness in body; 11. Tranquility... Be not disturbed at trifles; 12.
Chastity; 13. Humility... Imitate Jesus." - Autobiography, 1789
"O powerful goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my
truest interest. Strengthen my resolution to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to
thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual favours to me." - Autobiography, his
daily prayer, 1789
"I had been religiously educated as a Presbyterian; and though some of the dogmas of that persuasion,
such as the eternal decrees of God, election, reprobation, etc., appeared to me unintelligible, others
doubtful, and I early absented myself from the public assemblies of the sect, Sunday being my studying
day, I was never without religious principles.
I never doubted, for instance, the existence of the Deity; that he made the world, and governed it by his
Providence; that the most acceptable service of God was the doing good to man; that our souls are
immortal; and that all crime will be punished, and virtue rewarded, either here or hereafter. These I
esteemed the essentials of every religion; and, being to be found in all the religions we had in our country,
I respected them all, though with different degrees of respect, as I found them more or less mixed with
other articles, which without any tendency to inspire, promote, or co nfirm morality, served principally to
divide us, and make us unfriendly to one another.
This respect of all... induced me to avoid all discourse that might tend to lessen the good opinion another
might have of his own religion; and as our province increased in people, and new places of worship were
continually wanted, and generally erected by voluntary contribution, my mite for such propose, whatever
might bane the sect, was never refused.
Though I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of its utility when
rightly conducted, and I regularly paid my annual subscription for the support of the only Presbyterian
minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He used to visit me sometimes as a friend, and admonish me
to attend his administration." - Autobiography, 1789
"Human felicity is produc'd not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little
advantages that occur every day." - Autobiography, 1789
"My parents had early given me religious impressions, and brought me through my childhood piously in
the Dissenting way. But I was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by turns of several points, as I found
them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. Some books against
Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It
happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the
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arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the
refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist." - Autobiography, 1789
"So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for
everything one has a mind to do." - Autobiography, 1789
"Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices; Keep your eyes open before marriage, half shut
afterwards; My father convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest; Freedom is not a gift
bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature; Virtue
alone is sufficient to make a man great, glorious and happy; Let the fair sex be assured that I shall always
treat them and their affairs with the utmost decency and respect; Self-denial is really the highest selfgratification; Beware of little expenses; Remember Job suffered and was afterwards prosperous; I never
doubted the existence of the Deity, that he made the world, and governed it by His Providence; The event
God only knows; Good wives and good plantations are made by good husbands; Hope and faith may be
more firmly grounded upon Charity than Charity upon hope and faith; Virtue is not secure until its practice
has become habitual; Nothing is so likely to make a man's fortune as virtue; Without virtue man can have
no happiness; The pleasures of this world are rather from God's goodness than our own merit; Contrary
habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on
a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct; Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no ambition
corrupt thee, no example sway thee, no persuasion move thee to do anything which thou knowest to be
evil, so thou shalt live jollily, for a good conscience is a continual Christmas." - Maxims and Morals, 1789
"Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His
Providence. That He ought to be worshipped.
That the most acceptable service we render to Him is in doing good to His other Children. That the soul of
Man is immortal, and will be treated with Justice in another Life respecting its conduct in this. These I take
to be the fundamental points in all sound Religion, and I regard them as you do in whatever Sect I meet
with them.
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, is the best the World ever saw, or is likely to see." - Letter to Ezra Stiles,
President of Yale University, March 9, 1790
"THE BODY of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN Printer, Like the cover of an old book, Its contents torn out, And
stripped of its lettering and gilding Lies here, food for worms; Yet the work itself shall not be lost, For it will
(as he believed) appear once more, In a new, And more beautiful edition, Corrected and amended By the
AUTHOR" - His self-written Epitaph, April 17, 1790 17