Benjamin Franklin Quotes – Inspiring Quotes by Founding Father of America! (2022)

Benjamin Franklin was among the leading figures in early American history. He was a statesman, author, thinker, publisher, scientist, inventor, and diplomat. Above all, he was a great American genius. He was the driving force behind America’s first public lending library, hospital, first non-religious college, and the first national newspaper. He was one of the greatest thinkers of his time.

Table of Contents

Benjamin Franklin Inventions:

Electricity:

Benjamin Franklin invented the light rod in 1740, which protected buildings from fire caused by lightning. Moreover, in 1952, he performed the famous kite experiment to prove that lightning is electricity. He also introduced terms like battery, charge, and conductor. Franklin also studied ocean currents and meteorology.

Franklin Stove:

Franklin also modernized the emblematic stove. The Franklin’s stove produced more heat with less fuel as compared to other stoves used at that time.

Bifocal Eye Glasses:

Benjamin Franklin suffered from Presbyopia. It makes it difficult for a person’s eye to adjust to seeing different objects at different distances as one age. He invented double spectacles (bifocal glasses), which served efficiently for distant objects as well as near ones.

Glass Armonica:

Franklin also invented the musical instrument called Glass Armorica. It became very popular at that time but now has fallen out of use.

Swim Fins:

Swim fins were Franklin’s childhood invention. When he was 11, he invented them with two wooden pieces that were supposed to be grasped in hand. He also made feet fins, but they were not effective enough.

Urinary Catheter:

Franklin invented a flexible urinary catheter in 1752 when he saw his brother suffer from a kidney stone. He hired a silversmith to make the urinary catheter for him and mailed it to his brother.

Benjamin Franklin and the American Resolution:

Benjamin Franklin served in the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin was the only founding father who had signed all four key documents establishing the US which included:

The declaration of Independence (1977).
He provoked the king of France to sign the important military alliance in 1778.
The treaty of Paris establishing peace with Great Britain (1783), which ended the Revolutionary war.
US Constitution (1787) was his final significant act of public service.

Benjamin Franklin Inspirational Quotes:

This genius has been paraphrased and quoted endlessly that he can have an autobiography of his quotes only. Let’s go through some of his exceptionally aspiring quotes.

Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Freedom:

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God (proposed by Franklin for the motto of the Great Seal of the United States).
From a persuasion that equal liberty was originally the portion, it is still the birthright of all men.
Every man…is, of common right, and by the laws of God, a freeman, and entitled to the free enjoyment of liberty.
All the property that is necessary to a man for the conservation of the individual… is his natural right which none can justly deprive him of.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
Our cause is the cause of all mankind…we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.
Frequent recurrence to fundamental principles…[is] absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and keep a government free.
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.
Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.
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 vigour from a popular examination into the action of the magistrates.
Sell not…liberty to purchase power.
Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.
This Constitution…can only end in despotism…when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.
I hope…that all mankind will at length…have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats.
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!
Ordaining of laws in favour of one part of the nation to the prejudice and oppression of another is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy…An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.
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 Quotes on Religion:

I believe in one God, creator of the Universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshiped. That the most acceptable service we render him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of Man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.
When a religion is good, I conceive it will support itself; and when it does not support itself, and God does not take care to support it so that its professors are obliged to call for help of the civil power, ’tis a sign, I apprehend, of its being a bad one.
The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason.
This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, and that those who differ are so far in the wrong; like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, tho’ in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them.
Religion I found to be without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serves principally to divide us and make us unfriendly to one another.
I think vital religion has always suffered when orthodoxy is more regarded than virtue. The scriptures assure me that at the last day we shall not be examined on what we thought but what we did.
The United States Constitutional Convention, except for three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary.
Revealed religion has no weight with me.
Indeed, when religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry people quarrel about victuals, it looks as if they had not much of either among them.
Many have quarrelled about religion that never practice it.

Benjamin Franklin Quote on Christianity:

Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.
Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.
Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.
I have found Christian dogma unintelligible. Early in life, I absenteed myself from Christian assemblies.
How many observe Christ’s birthday! How few, His precepts!

Benjamin Franklin Quote on Democracy:

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what they are going to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
In these sentiments, sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government, but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered; and believe further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

Benjamin Franklin Quotes about Invention:

I always rejoice to hear of your being still employed in experimental researches into nature, and of the success you meet with. The rapid progress true science now makes, occasions my regretting sometimes that I was born so soon: it is impossible to imagine the height to which may be carried, in a thousand years, the power of man over matter; we may perhaps learn to deprive large masses of their gravity, and give them absolute levity for the sake of easy transport. Agriculture may diminish its labour and double its produce; all diseases may by sure means be prevented or cured (not excepting even that of old age), and our lives lengthened at pleasure even beyond the antediluvian standard. Oh! that moral science was in as fair a way of improvement; that men would cease to be wolves to one another; and that human beings would at length learn what they now improperly call humanity!

Benjamin Franklin Funny Quotes:

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let every new year find you a better man.
Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.
God heals, and the doctor takes the fees.
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.
If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.
If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some.
Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.
There cannot be good living where there is not good drinking.
Beware of the young doctor and the old barber.
Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away.
The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you’re finished.
Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.
God works wonders now and then; Behold a lawyer, an honest man.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
He that lieth down with Dogs, shall rise up with Fleas.
Necessity knows no law; I know some attorneys of the same.
In order to be happy, you need a good dog, a good woman, and ready money.

Summary:

Benjamin Franklin is remembered as one of the founding fathers of America. He is among the most famous American citizens. Along with his significant inventions, he has also served humanity by his inspiring quotes. Which was your favorite invention or quote by Benjamin Franklin?