Benjamin Franklin

"The heart of a fool is in his mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart."

"I know not which lives more unnatural lives, obeying husbands, or commanding wives."

"Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards."

"Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy; and he that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him."

"If you would be remembered, write a book worth the reading or live a life worth the writing about."

"If Jack's in love, he's no judge of Jill's beauty."

"In all your Amours you should prefer old Women to young ones. You call this a Paradox, and demand my Reasons. They are these:1. Because as they have more Knowledge of the World and their Minds are better stor’d with Observations, their Conversation is more improving and more lastingly agreable.2. Because when Women cease to be handsome, they study to be good. To maintain their Influence over Men, they supply the Diminution of Beauty by an Augmentation of Utility. They learn to do a 1000 Services small and great, and are the most tender and useful of all Friends when you are sick. Thus they continue amiable. And hence there is hardly such a thing to be found as an old Woman who is not a good Woman.3. Because there is no hazard of Children, which irregularly produc’d may be attended with much Inconvenience.4. Because thro’ more Experience, they are more prudent and discreet in conducting an Intrigue to prevent Suspicion. The Commerce with them is therefore safer with regard to your Reputation. And with regard to theirs, if the Affair should happen to be known, considerate People might be rather inclin’d to excuse an old Woman who would kindly take care of a young Man, form his Manners by her good Counsels, and prevent his ruining his Health and Fortune among mercenary Prostitutes.5. Because in every Animal that walks upright, the Deficiency of the Fluids that fill the Muscles appears first in the highest Part: The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.6. Because the Sin is less. The debauching a Virgin may be her Ruin, and make her for Life unhappy.7. Because the Compunction is less. The having made a young Girl miserable may give you frequent bitter Reflections; none of which can attend the making an old Woman happy.8thly and Lastly They are so grateful!!"

"Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature."

"The securest place is a prison cell, but there is no liberty"

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

"Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing."

"... a book indeed sometimes debauched me from my work..."

"The person who deserves most pity is a lonesome one on a rainy day who doesn't know how to read."

"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed."

"You may delay, but time will not."

"Great hopes make everything great possible."

"The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything."

"You will find the key to success under the alarm clock."

"The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance."

"How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!"