Benjamin Franklin, a profound thinker, armed with a world of wit and wisdom, was by far one of the most influential human beings of his time. His teachings or philosophies hold a relevance to us even today, much like a guiding compass. 

  

A famous American business investor and philanthropist, Charlie Munger once remarked, “Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Johnson were both utterly brilliant men. And powerful communicators. Both have helped me all the way through life. Their lessons are easy to assimilate”. He is one of the several admirers and followers of Benjamin Franklin. 

  

Intrigued by the genius aura surrounding Benjamin Franklin, we dived into his famed book “Poor Richard’s Almanac”. A small book filled with all his sayings, which holds true even till this day. It is an eye-opener of sorts. It awed us as we scoured through all his pearls of wisdom sprinkled with a bit of cynicism. 

 

We’ve hand-picked some of the best for your perusal. Read on and get inspired! 

“The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise” 

“Necessity never made a good bargain”  

“Well done is better than well said” 

“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one” 

“People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages” 

“A little house well fill’d, a little field well till’d, and a little wife well will’d, are great riches”  

“Where there’s marriage without love, there will be love without marriage”  

“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”  

“Diligence is the mother of good luck”  

“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing”
 

“Content is the Philosopher’s Stone, that turns all it touches into Gold”  

“Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults”
  

“A long life may not be good enough, but a good life is long enough”
  

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them!”
  

“Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it” 

“The use of money is all the advantage there is in having money”  

“Wish not so much to live long, as to live well” 

“Eat to please thyself, but dress to please others”
  

“Wink at small faults – remember thou hast great ones” 

“Each year one vicious habit rooted out, in time might make the worst man good throughout”  

 

 

 

  

“As pride increases, fortune declines”
  

“When you speak to a man, look on his eyes; when he speaks to thee, look on his mouth”
  

“Hide not your talents, they for use were made: what’s a sun-dial in the shade?”
  

“Learn of the skillful: he that teaches himself, hath a fool for his master” 

“Promises may get thee friends, but non-performance will turn them into enemies” 

“Reading makes a full man – meditation a profound man – discourse a clear man” 

  

“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself a slave to it”
  

“He that cannot obey, cannot command”
  

“The poor have little – beggars none; the rich too much – enough not one”  

“The proof of gold is fire; the proof of woman, gold; the proof of man, a woman”  

“Would you live with ease, do what you ought, and not what you please”
  

“A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder, but rest and guilt live far asunder”  

“Let thy discontents be thy secrets; – if the world knows them ’twill despise thee and increase them” 

  

  

  

  

  “If what most men admire they would despise, ‘Twould look as if mankind were growing wise”  

“Friendship increases by visiting friends, but by visiting seldom”  

“Neglect mending a small fault, and ’twill soon be a great one” 

“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water”
  

“Most people return small favors, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with ingratitude”  

“Don’t judge of men’s wealth or piety, by their Sunday appearances”  

“The wise and brave dares own that he was wrong”

“The busy man has few idle visitors, to the boiling pot the flies come not”
  

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards”  

“Friends are the true scepters of princes”  

“Wise men learn by other’s harms; fools by their own”  

“A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully and leave contentedly”
  

 

  

“Plough deep while sluggards sleep; and you shall have corn to sell and to keep”  

“He that’s content hath enough. He that complains hath too much” 

“Life with fools consist in drinking; with the wise man, living’s thinking”  

“Tell me my faults, and mend your own”  

“The wise man draws more advantage from his enemies, than the fool from his friends”
  

 

   

“Dine with little, sup with less: do better still: sleep supperless”
  

“What signifies knowing the names, if you know not the nature of things”
  

“Be not niggardly of what costs thee nothing, as courtesy, counsel, and countenance”  

“We keep the vices of others in sight; our own we carry on our backs” 

“Many complain of their memory, few of their judgement”
  

“Fools need advice most, but only wise men are the better for it”  

“Sudden power is apt to be insolent, sudden liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually”  

“You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife”  

“Teach your child to hold his tongue, he’ll learn fast enough to speak” 

“Friends are so important, equanimity vital, small things matter, humility above all else, moderation in all, knowledge and mastery of self”

 

 

 

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