Because I'm drawn to these concise bits of wisdom, I picked up a Dover Thrift Edition of Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack.
What follows are my favorite maxims offered by none other than Ben Franklin:
- Youth is pert and positive. Age modest and doubting: so Ears of Corn when young and light, stand bold upright, but hang their Heads when weighty, full, and ripe.
- If Passion drives, let Reason hold the Reins.
- Anger warms the Invention, but overheats the Oven.
- Anger is never without a Reason, but seldom with a good One.
- Craft must be at charge for clothes, but Truth can go naked.
- He that's content, hath enough; He that complains, hath too much.
- Discontented Minds, and Fevers of the Body are not to be cured by changing Beds or Businesses.
- In the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by Faith, but by Want of it.
- The sleeping Fox catches no poultry.
- Diligence overcomes Difficulties, Sloth makes them.
- God helps them that help themselves.
- Diligence is the mother of good luck.
- When the Wine enters, out goes the Truth.
- Eat to live; live not to eat.
- To lengthen they Life, lessen they Meals.
- What one relishes, nourishes.
- A learned Blockhead is a greater Blockhead than an ignorant one.
- The learned Fool write his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still 'tis Nonsense.
- The first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one's self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise Counsel.
- Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a Folly.
- There are three faithful friends--an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.
- Avoid dishonest Gain: No price can recompense the Pangs of Vice.
- Where there's Marriage without Love, there will be Love without Marriage.
- Pride dines upon Vanity, sups on Contempt.
- As Pride increases, Fortune declines.
- Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.
- He's the best physician that knows the worthlessness of the most medicines.
- No gains without pains.
- Make haste slowly.
- Three make keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
- Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.
- Haste makes waste.
- Don't throw Stones at your Neighbours', if your own Windows are Glass.
- 'Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.
- Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
- To serve the Publick faithfully, and at the same time please it entirely, is impracticable.
- Wink at small faults--remember thou has great ones.
- Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man.
- An open foe may prove a curse; but a pretended friend is worse.
- Fish and visitors stink after three days.
- Men and melons are hard to know.
- He that won't be counsell'd, can't be help'd.
- There is no little enemy.
- He that speaks much, is much mistaken.
- Half Wits talk much but say little.
- Lost Time is never found again.
- People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.
- A good Example is the best Sermon.
- Bad Commentators spoil the best of books.
- To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.
- Old Boys have their Playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the Price.
- When the Well's dry, we know the Worth of Water.
