“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. “

—Benjamin Franklin.

“Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.” —Benjamin Franklin.

“Human felicity is produced not as much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.” —Benjamin Franklin.

“There never was a good war or a bad peace.”
—Benjamin Franklin.

“Almost all the parts of our bodies require some expense. The feet demand shoes, the legs stockings, the rest of the body clothing, and the belly a good deal of victuals. Our eyes, though exceedingly useful, ask when reasonable, only the cheap assistance of spectacles, which could not much impair our finances. But the eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us.” —Benjamin Franklin.

“Consider how hard it is to change yourself and you’ll understand what little chance you have in trying to change others.”
—Benjamin Franklin.

“I have long observed one rule which prevents any inconveniences from such practices. It is simply this: to be concerned in no affairs I should blush to have made public, and to do nothing but what spies may see and welcome. When a man’s actions are just and honorable, the more they are known, the more his reputation is increased and established. If I was sure, therefore, that my valet de place was a spy, as he probably is, I think I should probably not discharge him for that, if in other respects I liked him.”

—Benjamin Franklin. 

“The difference between failure and success is the difference between doing something almost right and doing something right.” 

– Benjamin Franklin.

“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing in the tempting place.” 

—Benjamin Franklin. 

“Such is the vanity of mankind that minding what others say is a much surer way of pleasing them than talking well ourselves.”

~ Benjamin Franklin. 

“To find out a girl’s faults, praise her to her girl friends.” 
—Benjamin Franklin. 

“Some are weather-wise, some are otherwise.” 

—Benjamin Franklin. 

Little Strokes, Fell great oaks. -Benjamin Franklin, statesman, author, and inventor (17 Jan 1706-1790). 

“Critics are our friends, they show us our faults.”

― Benjamin Franklin.

“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” -Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin’s Closing Speech at the Constitutional Convention, September 17, 1787
Mr President,

I confess that I do not entirely approve this Constitution at present, but sir, I am not sure I shall never approve it: for having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele, a Protestant in a dedication tells the pope, that the only difference between our two churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrine, is, the Romish church is infallible, and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility, as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain French lady, who in a little dispute with her sister, said, I don’t know how it happens, sister, but I meet with no body but myself that’s always in the right. Il n’y a que moi a toujours raison.

In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general government necessary for us, there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution: for 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. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded, like those of the builders of Babel, and that our states are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats.

Thus I consent, sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partisans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects and great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign nations, as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity.

Much of the strength and efficiency of any government in procuring and securing happiness to the people depends on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of that government as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes, as a part of the people, and for the sake of our posterity we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution, wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts and endeavors to the means of having it well administered.

On the whole, sir, I cannot help expressing a wish, that every member of the convention, who may still have objections to it, would with me on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity put his name to this instrument.

***

Source: Value Investing World.

“The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.”

—Benjamin Franklin.  

“If passion drives you,  let reason hold the reins.” 

—Benjamin Franklin. 

“Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. ”

~Benjamin Franklin.

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“Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble. ”
Benjamin Franklin.

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“No nation was ever ruined by trade.”

~Benjamin Franklin

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“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.”

~Benjamin Franklin

Portrait of Benjamin Franklin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Benjamin Franklin 1767 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The strictest law sometimes becomes the severest injustice.”

~Benjamin Franklin.