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
It is wonderful how preposterously the affairs of the world are managed. We assemble parliaments and councils to have the benefit of collected wisdom, but we necessarily have, at the same time, the inconvenience of their collected passions, prejudices and private interests: for regulating commerce an assembly of great men is the greatest fool on earth
When you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests and their selfish views.
What you would seem to be, be really.
The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.
Presumption first blinds a man, then sets him a running.
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone.
The doors of wisdom are never shut.
Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.
A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.
Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.
Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.
Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contently.
The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.