Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] - April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'. He formed both the first public lending library in America and first fire department in Pennsylvania. He was an early proponent of colonial unity, and as a political writer and activist he supported the idea of an American nation. As a diplomat during the American Revolution he secured the French alliance that helped to make independence of the United States possible.

Religion: Deist

Websites about Benjamin Franklin

• Full text of Benjamin Franklin`s Autobiography (1771-1788)
• Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
• The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (The American Philosophical Society and Yale University)

Quotes by Benjamin Franklin

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 chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the 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 =-

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.

-= On the Price of Corn and Management of the Poor, November 1766 =-

How many observe Christ's birth-day! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.

-= Poor Richard's Almanack =-

History affords us many instances of the ruin of states, by the prosecution of measures ill suited to the temper and genius of their people. The ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation, to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy. An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy... These measures never fail to create great and violent jealousies and animosities between the people favored and the people oppressed; whence a total separation of affections, interests, political obligations, and all manner of connections, by which the whole state is weakened.

-= Emblematical Representations, Circa 1774 =-

Here comes the orator! With his flood of words, and his drop of reason.

-= Poor Richard's Almanack =-

Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy.

-= letter to John Alleyne, August 9, 1768 =-

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

-= Advice to a Young Tradesman, 1748 =-

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 =-

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 =-

A dying man can do nothing easy.

-= after his daughter asked him to move, April 17, 1790 =-

A fine genius in his own country is like gold in the mine.

-= Poor Richard's Almanack =-

A Spoonful of Honey will catch more Flies than a Gallon of Vinegar.

-= Poor Richard's Almanack =-

It is undoubtedly the Duty of all Persons to server the Country they live in, according to their abilities..

-= Silence Dogood Letter #3 - April 30, 1722 =-

I have from my Youth been indefatigable studious to gain and treasure up in my Mind all useful and desirable Knowledge, especially such as tends to improve the Mind, and enlarge the Understanding.

-= Silence Dogood Letter #3 - April 30, 1722 =-

Marriage is...the most natural state of man, and therefore the stat in which you are most likely to find solid happines.... It is the man and woman united that makes the complete human being..... man has not nearly the value he would have in the stat of union. He is an incomplete animal; he resembles the odd half of a pair of scissors.

-= "Advice on the Choice of a Mistress" ( 25 Jun 1745 =-

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