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
What pains our Justice takes his faults to hide, With half that pains sure he might cure 'em quite
If it were not for the Belly, the Back might wear Gold.
Friends and neighbors, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing abatement.
He that idly loses 5 s. worth of time, loses 5 s. & might as prudently throw 5 s. in the River.
Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout.
And he that pays ready Money, might let that Money out to Use: so that
What signifies knowing the names, if you know not the nature of things.
To the discontented man no chair is easy
Yet, in buying Goods, 'tis best to pay ready Money, because,
Those that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Turn Turk Tim, and renounce thy Faith in Words as well as Actions: Is it worse to follow Mahomet than the Devil?
You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.
You may be more happy than Princes, if you will be more virtuous.
With regard to future bliss, I cannot help imagining that multitudes of the zealously orthodox of different sects, who at the last day may flock together in hopes of seeing each other damned, will be disappointed, and obliged to rest content With the