What a man has honestly acquired is absolutely his own, which he may freely give, but cannot be taken from him without his consent.

I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.

Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others?

Chess is so interesting in itself, as not to need the view of gain to induce engaging in it; and thence it is never played for money

I have never seen the Philosopher's Stone that turns lead into Gold, but I have known the pursuit of it turn a Man's Gold into Lead.

It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent.

Here's to our beloved George Washington, the Joshua of America, who commanded the sun and the moon to stand still - and they obeyed.

To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.

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

That experience is the parent of wisdom is an adage the truth of which is recognized by the wisest as well as the simplest of mankind.

The laws of Congress are restricted to a certain sphere, and when they depart from this sphere, they are no longer supreme or binding.

In disquisitions of every kind there are certain primary truths, or first principles, upon which all subsequent reasoning must depend.

Necessity, especially in politics, often occasions false hopes, false reasonings, and a system of measures, correspondingly erroneous.

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the latter.

Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.

So convenient a thing to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for every thing one has a mind to do.

The punishment of murder by death is contrary to reason, and to the order and happiness of society, and contrary to divine revelation.

All who think cannot but see there is a sanction like that of religion which binds us in partnership in the serious work of the world.

If our Trade be taxed, why not our Lands, or Produce in short, everything we possess? They tax us without having legal representation.

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

A highwayman is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang as when single; and a nation that makes an unjust war is only a great gang.

If you'd be wealthy, think of saving, more than of getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes equal her Incomes.

The expenses required to prevent a war are much lighter than those that will, if not prevented, be absolutely necessary to maintain it.

There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.

Savages we call them, because their manners differ from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs.

What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic? An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws.

Take one thing with another, and the world is a pretty good sort of a world, and it is our duty to make the best of it, and be thankful.

Little minds think and talk about people. Average minds think and talk about things and actions. Great minds think and talk about ideas.

Religion is the solid basis of good morals; therefore education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.

In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two works, industry and frugality.

A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy - "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it."

Many estates are spent in the getting, since women for tea forsake spinning and knitting, and men for punch forsake hewing and splitting.

I conceive that the great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by false estimates they have made of the value of things.

The trial of Zenger in 1735 was the germ of American freedom, the morning star of that liberty which subsequently revolutionized America.

Americans rouse - be unanimous, be virtuous, be firm, exert your courage, trust in Heaven, and nobly defy the enemies both of God and man!

Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.

Here is my Creed. I believe in one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be worshipped.

If you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm. Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants to see us happy.

He that blows the coals in quarrels that he has nothing to do with, has no right to complain if the sparks fly in his face. - Ben Franklin

Man's rights are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.

It is the Press which has corrupted our political morals - and it is to the Press we must look for the means of our political regeneration.

The Christian Constitutional Society, its object is first: The support of the Christian religion. Second: The support of the United States.

In the usual progress of things, the necessities of a nation in every stage of its existence will be found at least equal to its resources.

I made the greater progress, from that clearness of head and quicker apprehension which generally attend temperance in eating and drinking.

What science can there be more noble, more excellent, more useful for men, more admirably high and demonstrative, than this of mathematics?

In Truth I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my Memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.

Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!

Money has never made man happy, nor will it, there is nothing in its nature to produce happiness. The more of it one has the more one wants.

Blessed is he that expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed. expect nothing - get nothing! but expect something - get something!!

I early found that when I worked for myself alone, myself alone worked for me; but when I worked for others also, others worked also for me.

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