Ben Franklin Day: Famous Franklin Quotes & Sayings

Today America celebrates one of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin. Born to a candle and soap maker on January 17, 1705, Franklin became an inventor, printer, scientist, diplomat and all-around genius. Known for inventing bifocals (out of necessity), the lightning rod, odometer, swim fins, catheter and the Franklin stove, Franklin also established Philadelphia’s first subscription library, police force and fire department. Mr. Franklin is also credited as coming up with the idea of Daylight Saving Time.

Using the pseudonym Richard Saunders, this extraordinary man also published Poor Richard’s Almanack which included weather forecasts and many of Franklin’s witty sayings and quotes. Benjamin Franklin died in 1790. He was 84.

Famous Benjamin Franklin Quotes & Sayings

• A penny saved is a penny earned.

• A place for everything, everything in its place.

• Eat to live and not live to eat.

• Better slip with the foot than the tongue.

• An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

• Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

• Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.

• God helps them that help themselves.

• There are three faithful friends – an old wife, an old dog and ready money.

• God heals and the Doctor takes the Fees.

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

• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (reportedly said for fire-fighting advice.)

• Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Learn more about Benjamin Franklin on PBS. January 17 is also Customer Service Appreciation Dayand National Hot Buttered Rum Day.

Sources:

• Brainy Quote

• U.S. History

• Rich Hall