65+ Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Freedom and Politics

Table of Contents

Benjamin Franklin wasn’t just a Founding Father, he was a master of clever one-liners, sharp insights, and practical wisdom that still rings true today.

While many remember him as the man on the $100 bill or the curious inventor who flew a kite in a lightning storm, Franklin should be remembered for more than those things.

A true polymath, Franklin was a scientist who pushed the boundaries of discovery, a printer who shaped public opinion, a satirist who used humor to make a point, and a political thinker whose ideas helped lay the foundation for American liberty.

I put together this collection of Ben Franklin quotes to show the many sides of his genius. These are not just witty one-liners. They’re glimpses into the mind of a man who could challenge authority, provoke thought, and, when the moment called for it, make people laugh.

On Liberty, Rights, and Rebellion

“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” – Benjamin Franklin

“God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: This is my country.” – Benjamin Franklin

“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.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Justice will not be served until those who are unaffected are as outraged as those who are.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Our cause is the cause of all mankind…we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Security without liberty is called prison.” – Benjamin Franklin

“From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the portion, it is still the birthright of all men.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Sell not…liberty to purchase power.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Every man…is, of common right, and by the laws of God, a freeman, and entitled to the free enjoyment of liberty.” – Benjamin Franklin

“No nation was ever ruined by trade.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Distrust and caution are the parents of security.” – Benjamin Franklin

“It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.” – Benjamin Franklin

“A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle.” – Benjamin Franklin

On Free Speech and the Foundation of a Republic

“Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins.

Republics…derive their strength and vigor from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.” – Benjamin Franklin

“In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own.

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech; a thing terrible to publick traytors.” – Benjamin Franklin

“When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.” – Benjamin Franklin

“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.” – Benjamin Franklin

“A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.” – Benjamin Franklin

“That it is better one hundred guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer is a maxim that has been long and generally approved.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Freedom of speech is ever the symptom as well as the effect of good government.” – Benjamin Franklin

On Virtue, Morality, and the Character of a Nation

“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” – Benjamin Franklin

“I have heard of some great man, whose rule it was, with regard to offices, never to ask for them, and never to refuse them; to which I have always added, in my own practice, never to resign them.” – 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

Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you.” – Benjamin Franklin

“He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.” – Benjamin Franklin

“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.” – Benjamin Franklin

“To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness.” – Benjamin Franklin

“He that can have patience can have what he will.” – Benjamin Franklin

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade?” – Benjamin Franklin

On Government, Law, and Public Affairs

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes!” – Benjamin Franklin

“It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The more the people are discontented with the oppression of taxes, the greater the need the prince has of money to distribute among his partisans and pay the troops that are to suppress all resistance and enable him to plunder at pleasure.” – Benjamin Franklin

“A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The first mistake in public business is the going into it.” – Benjamin Franklin

War, Peace, and Global Perspective

“We are now friends with England and with all mankind. May we never see another war! for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin

Wars are not paid for in wartime, the bill comes later – Benjamin Franklin

“All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones.” – Benjamin Franklin

Wit, Satire, and Observations on Society

“A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Love your neighbor, yet don’t pull down your hedge.” – Benjamin Franklin

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

“A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned, but it is still nonsense.” – Benjamin Franklin

“He that would live in peace and at ease must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.” – Benjamin Franklin

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

“He that drinks fast, pays slow.” – Benjamin Franklin

“The U.S. Constitution doesn’t guarantee happiness, only the pursuit of it. You have to catch up with it yourself.” – Benjamin Franklin

“I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy.

The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Where carcasses are, eagles will gather, And where good laws are, much people flock thither.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” – Benjamin Franklin

Personal Improvement and Practical Wisdom

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Diligence is the mother of good luck.” – Benjamin Franklin

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Genius without education is like silver in the mine.” – Benjamin Franklin

“Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

Sources

Founding Fathers Quotes: Quotes to Inspire Greatness

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