Benjamin Franklin
American printer, scientist and statesman (1706 to 1790); served on the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence; commissioner to France from 1776 to 1785.
Benjamin Franklin did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
The line under a date shows how recently it was said: empty within a month, full after three years.
-
Our reading
Writing that deeply impresses even one active mind in a hundred may have considerable effects
Their wordsSuch writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 8th of 8 in this piece
- 10 months earlier
-
Our reading
Their wordsI hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats: for, in my opinion, there never was a good war nor a bad peace.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 6th of 8 in this piece
-
Our reading
Money spent on wars would have added vastly more to human comfort if spent on public works
Their wordsWhat vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 7th of 8 in this piece
- 3 years earlier
-
Their wordsThe rapid progress true science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon: it is impossible to imagine the height to which may be carried, in a thousand years, the power of man over matter; we may perhaps learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity for the sake of easy transport.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 4th of 8 in this piece
-
Their wordsOh! that moral science were in as fair a way of improvement; that men would cease to be wolves to one another; and that human beings would at length learn what they now improperly call humanity!
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 5th of 8 in this piece
- 2 days earlier
-
Their wordsWhen will men be convinced that even successful wars at length become misfortunes to those who unjustly commenced them, and who triumphed blindly in their success, not seeing all its consequences.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 3rd of 8 in this piece
- 27 years earlier
-
Their wordsFor my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 1st of 8 in this piece
-
Their wordsFor 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.
↗Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 2: letters (1860 edition)gutenberg.org 2nd of 8 in this piece
The line under a date fills as the words age, a quarter at a time: past a month, six months, a year, and three years. Empty means said within the last month; full, more than three years ago. It says when, not whether it still holds — a change of mind is marked on the claim itself.
Dashed means we only know the words existed by that date; they may be older.