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
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.
Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.
All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones. In my opinion, there never was a good war or a bad peace. When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?
Singularity in the right hath ruined many happy those who are convinced of the general opinion
What have you wrought ... A Republic if you can keep it.
What has become clear to you since we last met ?
What's proper, is becoming: See the Blacksmith with his white Silk Apron!
Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you will be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrow's; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
Were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults in the first.
Where there is hunger, law is not regarded;and where law is not regarded, there will be hunger.
Would you live with ease, do what you should, and not what you please. Success has ruined many a man.
There is no man so bad, but he secretly respects the good.
We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our foolishness.
To be proud of knowledge is to be blind with light.