The Greatest Ben Franklin Quotes of All Time

Few of the founding fathers had a way with words like Benjamin Franklin. While he never served as president, he was an important diplomatic figure in the early days of the United States. Today’s list takes a closer look at the wisdom and wit of the often sardonic Mr. Franklin.

Learning

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.“

Ben Franklin was a lifelong student and understood the need to involve yourself in a process to bind it to memory.

Growth

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.“

This is a beautiful quote that succinctly demonstrates the need to improve and make yourself prosper.

Life

“Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.“

Franklin’s pithy quip about life seems at odds with his stature and gravitas as a statesman.

Anger

“Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame.“

This one speaks for itself. Nothing you do born of anger is going to bring any happiness.

Food

“In general, mankind, since the improvement of cookery eats twice as much as nature requires.”

You can only imagine how much Ben Franklin would have enjoyed modern food.

Need

“Necessity never made a good bargain.“

This is arguably the truest quote uttered by anyone, let alone Ben Franklin.

Wisdom

“Wise men don’t need advice. Fools won’t take it.“

The clear distinction is a wise man is willing to listen to advice.

Procrastination

“Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.“

I should listen to this one, but that’s for another day.

Self-Reflection

“There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self.“

Being able to recognize yourself, fully and truly, is almost impossible. You never know how you’ll respond to a situation until it arises, after all.

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