The collection / 325 fragments

The living archive

Passages, proverbs, and questions carried across the ages.

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01Undated

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

Benjamin Franklin / quote

02Undated

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

03Undated

To whom you betray your secret you sell your liberty.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

04Undated

As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

05Undated

Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, money in the purse, credit in the country, contentment in the house, clothes on the back, and vigor in the body.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

06Undated

What maintains one vice would bring up two children.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

07Undated

Vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

08Undated

The way to wealth is as plain as the road to market. It depends chiefly on two words,—industry and frugality.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

09Undated

Life is rather a state of embryo, a preparation for life; a man is not completely born till he has passed through death.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

10Undated

Pay not before thy work be done; if thou dost, it will never be well done, and thou wilt have but a pennyworth for twopence.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

11Undated

Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure, and, since you are not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

12Undated

Hard work is still the road to prosperity, and there is no other.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

13Undated

He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honour.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

14Undated

He that lives upon hopes will die fasting.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

15Undated

If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it from him.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

16Undated

If you would have a faithful servant and one you like, serve yourself.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

17Undated

It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

18Undated

It is folly to lay out money in the purchase of repentance.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

19Undated

Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain; the lazy man never.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

20Undated

Let thy child's first lesson be obedience, and the second will be what thou wilt.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

21Undated

Nothing preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

22Undated

Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

23Undated

Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

Benjamin Franklin / quote

24Undated

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright.

Benjamin Franklin / quote