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Franklin Quotes
The quotes of Benjamin Franklin
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| "THINK INNOCENTLY AND JUSTLY; AND IF YOU SPEAK, SPEAK ACCORDINGLY." | Trust the good in other people. Be fair to everyone in your thinking and speaking. |
| "A TRUE FRIEND IS THE BEST POSSESSION." | There's nothing better than a best bud or two to hang out with. |
| "CONTENT MAKES POOR MEN RICH; DISCONTENT MAKES RICH MEN POOR." | Ben thought that being happy and liking your life was a better (and richer) way to live than spending your time and energy counting money. |
| "TIME IS AN HERB THAT CURES ALL DISEASES." | Ever heard the saying "TIME CURES ALL ILLS?" This is the same thing. When you feel mad or sad, just step back and give yourself a little time, Often the bad feelings will go away or feel a lot less bad. |
| "WITHOUT VIRTUE MAN CAN HAVE NO HAPPINESS IN THIS WORLD." | The only way to be happy is to be a virtuous person and that means doing what you know is right, even when it's hard to do. |
| "EAT TO PLEASE THYSELF, BUT DRESS TO PLEASE OTHERS." | Eating is something that just concerns you. So eat what you like (as long as it's healthy). But when you're out with other people, it's a good thing to consider how they'll feel about your dress, your talk, your general doings. |
| "A LONG LIFE MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH, BUT A GOOD LIFE IS LONG ENOUGH" | No reason to sit around and wonder just how long you'll live. Cram every day with the good stuff - good talk, good work, good times. |
| "THE DESIRE FOR HAPPINESS IN GENERAL IS SO NATURAL TO US, THAT ALL THE WORLD ARE IN PURSUIT OF IT." | Everybody wants to be happy. So think hard about what really brings you happiness, then go for it. |
| "THERE ARE NO GAINS WITHOUT PAINS." | Today we say "NO PAIN, NO GAIN," particularly when we're toughing it out to get in shape for something important we're going to do. Like sing in a concert, perform in a play, or play in a big game. |
| "EACH DAY LET DUTY CONSTANTLY BE DONE." | Being dutiful was a big deal in Ben's day. Things were a little harsher back then, but it's still a good idea to do what you say you'll do and what people count on you to do. |
| "READ MUCH, BUT NOT MANY BOOKS." | Reading books is one way to learn, but actually getting out there and experiencing the real world can teach you a whole lot, too. |
| "IF YOU WILL NOT HEAR REASON, SHE'LL SURELY RAP YOUR KNUCKLES." | Take time to think before you act. Thinking something through before you start doing it makes things go a lot smoother. |
| "IF YOU WOULD HAVE A FAITHFUL SERVANT, AND ONE THAT YOU LIKE, SERVE YOURSELF." | The very best person to rely on is yourself. Just do what needs to be done and don't expect somebody else - your mother or your father maybe? - to do it for you. |
| "A PAIR OF GOOD EARS WILL DRAIN DRY AN HUNDRED TONGUES." | Many of us like to talk. So we like a good listener. It takes some work, but if you teach yourself to be a good listener you can learn a lot. |
| "WELL DONE IS BETTER THAN WELL SAID." | Ever heard of the saying "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS"? Same thing. Better to be a hardworking doer than a big talker. |
| "A SLIP OF THE FOOT YOU MAY SOON RECOVER: BUT A SLIP OF THE TONGUE YOU MAY NEVER GET OVER." | Be careful what you say. Because once it's said, you can't take it back - ever. |
| "'TIS EASIER TO PREVENT BAD HABITS THAN TO BREAK THEM." | We've got some bad habits, but when you know something's starting to be a problem - whether it's eating too much, talking too much, or texting all the time, just stop. |
| "HE THAT LIES DOWN WITH DOGS, SHALL RISE UP WITH FLEAS." | When you hang around with someone their ways and ideas will rub off on you. |
| "HASTE MAKES WASTE." | If you rush through something just to get it done, you may not do it right, and then you'll have to do it all over again. |
| "LET ALL YOUR THINGS HAVE THEIR PLACES; LET EACH PART OF YOUR BUSINESS HAVE ITS TIME." | Stay focused on what you're doing. When it's time to do your homework, do it! When it's time to eat, pay attention to the food and company. |
| "A MAN IN A PASSION RIDES A MAD HORSE." | This just means don't let your emotions run away with you, because that's only going to lead to trouble. |
| "AVOID TRIFLING CONVERSATION." | Ditch the silly chatter and talk about stuff that matters. |
| "THOSE WHO ARE FEAR'D, ARE HATED." | You know how everybody's afraid for the class bully. But really, nobody likes them. Making people afraid of you is just no way to make friends. |
| "BE TO THY PARENTS AN OBEDIENT SON." | It's always a good idea to respect the rules your parents set for you. |
| "HE THAT CANNOT OBEY, CANNOT COMMAND." | If you don't know how to take orders from the person in charge, you'll never make a good leader yourself. |
| "SEARCH OTHERS FOR THEIR VIRTUES, THY SELF FOR THY VICES." | Look for the good stuff in people, but check yourself for ways you could improve. |
| "GREAT BEAUTY, GREAT STRENGTH, AND GREAT RICHES ARE REALLY AND TRULY OF NO GREAT USE; A RIGHT HEART EXCEEDS. ALL" | Living a righteous life and being a good person are more important than beauty, strength, and wealth. But you need to figure out for yourself what being good means. |
| "NEVER GIVE WAY TO SLOTH, OR LUST, OR PRIDE." | Don't be slothful - lazy. Don't let your lusts - things you want really badly - run away with you. And don't be proud - thinking you're better than other people. |
| "DON'T THROW STONES AT YOUR NEIGHBOURS, IF YOUR OWN WINDOWS ARE GLASS." | It may seem easy to "THROW STONES" - make fun of criticize other people - but each of us has things people could make fun of, too. |
| "DILIGENCE IS THE MOTHER OF GOOD LUCK." | Diligence means not giving up - at whatever you're doing. And if you don't give up, you'll probably have pretty good luck with whatever you want to do. |
| "RESOLVE TO PERFORM WHAT YOU OUGHT. PERFORM WITHOUT FAIL WHAT YOU RESOLVE." | Decide what the right thing to do is, then do it! |
| "BE NOT DISTURBED AT TRIFLES, OR AT ACCIDENTS COMMON OR UNAVOIDABLE." | Ever heard the expression "DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF"? That's what this means. We all have little accidents, like breaking glass or forgetting something. So don't worry about it. |
| "'TIS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND." | Anytime is a good time to mend a relationship by saying you're sorry or mending your ways, which means changing things you do that bother other people. |
| "LITTLE STROKES FELL GREAT OAKS." | When you've got a big job ahead of you, start with little steps, and before you know it, it will be done. |
| "LEARN OF THE SKILLFUL: HE THAT TEACHES HIMSELF, HATH A FOOL FOR HIS MASTER." | There are a lot of smart people out there ready to teach us all they know. All we have to do is pay attention and be willing to learn. |
| "YOU MAY DELAY, BUT TIME WILL NOT." | Don't procrastinate - put off doing what you need to do - because, as another saying goes, "TIME MARCHES ON," whether you are in step with it or not. |
| "NOTHING DRIES SOONER THAN A TEAR." | When you feel sad or disappointed, remember that it probably won't last that long. |
| "HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY." | Always stick to what's true and make sure you're honest with yourself. |
| "MEN AND MELONS ARE HARD TO KNOW". | You can't know what a cantaloupe or a watermelon will be like inside by looking at it. The same goes for people. |
| "OH 'TIS EASIER TO KEEP A HOLIDAY, THAN COMMANDMENTS." | A lot of the holidays started for religious reasons, but we forget to celebrate the meaning and morals behind them. ("IT IS MORE BLESSED TO RECEIVE THAN TO GIVE"). |
| "TART WORDS MAKE NO FRIENDS: A SPOONFUL OF HONEY WILL CATCH MORE FLIES THAN A GALLON OF VINEGAR." | There's no reason to be someone who argues or makes fun of other people. A nasty tongue only turns people away. If your talk is more friendly, you'll have many more friends. |
| "WHAT YOU WOULD SEEM TO BE, BE REALLY." | Don't be a fake. Just be who you really are. |
| "A FALSE FRIEND AND A SHADOW, ATTEND ONLY WHILE THE SUN SHINES." | A good friend will be there for you in all kinds of weather - meaning when you're happy and sunny and when you're sad or gloomy. |
| "EAT TO LIVE, AND NOT LIVE TO EAT." | Some people can't stop thinking about food. But really, food is for fueling your body, and keeping you healthy, not for fixating on. |
| "FISH AND VISITORS STINK IN 3 DAYS." | You king of had to live in Ben's time to get this saying, but it just means that visitors shouldn't overstay their welcome or take advantage of their host's generosity. |
| "FOR WANT OF A NAIL, THE SHOE WAS LOST; FOR WANT OF A SHOE THE HORSE WAS LOST; AND FOR WANT OF THE HORSE THE RIDER WAS LOST ..." | Pay attention to the little things, because if you don't, they can lead to bigger problems. Say you forget to study for a test and you get a bad grade - that one exam could bring your grade down for a whole year. |
| "EARLY TO BED AND EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY, WEALTHY, AND WISE." | Best to get to bed early and get up early, and you'll feel better and do better at everything. |
| "HE THAT CAN HAVE PATIENCE, CAN HAVE WHAT HE WILL." | Don't get restless and give up. If you wait or work hard for something you want, you've got a much better chance of getting it. |
| "A PENNY SAV'D IS TWOPENCE CLEAR." | Saving money that comes your way is the best way to have money. Once you spend your cash, it's gone, and sometimes we spend money on something that catches our eye that moment, but that we don't really need, or even want. |
| "BE SLOW IN CHUSING A FRIEND, SLOWER IN CHANGING." | You know how sometimes you meet a new person and you become "fast friends," but after a while, the friendship doesn't work anymore? Best to be sure about someone before making them a good friend. Then stick with the friendship. |
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ValleyDisquise
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