Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklinwas one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He facilitated many civic organizations, including...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth17 January 1706
CityBoston, MA
CountryUnited States of America
Rules too soft are seldomly followed; rules too harsh are seldomly executed.
Passion governs, and she never governs wisely.
I am in the prime of senility.
Whether a Commonwealth suffers more by hypocritical pretenders to religion or by the openly profane? The most dangerous hypocrite in a Commonwealth is one who leaves the gospel for the sake of the law. A man compounded of law and gospel is able to cheat a whole country with his religion and then destroy them under color of law.
Take courage, Mortal... Death cannot banish you from the Universe.
This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.
... there is much truth in the Italian saying, 'Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you.'
Pity and forbearance should characterize all acts of justice.
Who judges best of a Man, his Enemies or himself?
The first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one's self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise Counsel.
Nothing but Money, Is sweeter than Honey.
Wealth and Content are not always Bed-fellows.
Time eateth all things, could old poets say, The times are chang'd, our times drink all away.
He that sows Thorns, should never go barefoot.