Proverbs from Benjamin Franklin

Found 290 related proverbs. Click on any proverb below to view the full analysis and original text.

• A78 An ill (lean) AGREEMENT is better than a good (fat) judgment
• A202 Speak not ALL you know, do not all you can, believe not all you hear
• A226 Great ALMSGIVING lessens no man's living
• A294 One rotten APPLE corrupts all those apples that lie near it
• A343 ASK and have
• B30 An empty BAG (sack) cannot stand upright
• B77 A good BARGAIN is a pickpurse
• B79 On a good BARGAIN (pennyworth) think twice (pause a while)
• B164 BEAUTY and folly are often matched together
• B183 Better to go to BED supperless than to rise in debt
• B184 Early to BED and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
• B278 BELLS call others but themselves enter not into the church
• B288 The BELLY robs the back
• B293 A fat BELLY does not engender a subtle wit
• B304 When the BELLY is full the mind is amongst the maids
• B545 He that goes a BORROWING goes a sorrowing
• B552 Who still takes out and puts not in will quickly find a BOTTOM
• B625 Plow deep, thou shalt have BREAD (corn) enough
• B631 Where BREAD is wanting all is to be sold
• B711 He may bear (carry) a BULL that hath borne (carried) a calf
• B750 If you would have your BUSINESS done, go; if not, send
• C15a CALAMITY (Extremity) is the touchstone of a brave mind (unto wit)
• C39 A CANDLE (torch) lights others and consumes itself
• C73 Where the CARCASS is there the eagles will gather
• C92 Kiss a CARL¹ and clap² a carl and that's the way to tine³ a carl, knock a carl and ding⁴ a carl and that's the way to win a carl
• C145 A gloved CAT can catch no mice
• C270 CHEESE is good that comes from a niggard (miser)
• C310 A late CHILD an early orphan
• C347 It is easier to build two CHIMNEYS than to maintain one
• C605 A good CONSCIENCE is a continual feast
• C609 A quiet CONSCIENCE sleeps in thunder
• C610 Some make a CONSCIENCE of spitting in the church yet rob the altar
• C625 CONTENT is the philosopher's stone, that turns all it touches into gold
• C629 CONTENTMENT (A contented mind) is great riches
• C701 COUNSELS in wine seldom prosper
• C702 He that will not be COUNSELED cannot be helped
• C713 The COUNTRYMAN between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats
• C818 The CREDITOR has a better memory than the debtor
• C862 The royal CROWN cures not the headache
• D13 Who DAINTIES love shall beggars prove
• D45 Marry your DAUGHTER and eat fresh fish betimes
• D63 The DAY is short and the work is much
• D110 Who rises late trots all the DAY
• D114 After three DAYs men grow weary of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy (rain)
• D149 DEATH takes no bribe
• D193 The first DEGREE of folly is to hold oneself wise, the second to profess it, the third to despise counsel
• D338 DILIGENCE is the mother of good fortune (luck)
• D354 DISCRETION is the better part of valor
• D378 Many DISHES many diseases
• D412 He that DOES (seeks) that he ought not, that happens to him he thinks not (finds what he would not)
• D537 He that lies down (goes to bed, sleeps) with DOGS must rise with fleas
• D570 He will not put off his DOUBLET (clothes) before he goes to bed
• E8 Full EARS of corn hang lowest
• E50 EAT to live, not live to eat
• E70 An EGG today is better than a hen tomorrow
• E119 The END of passion is the beginning of repentance
• E137 An ENEMY (Adversity) makes a man to know himself whereas a friend (prosperity) flattens a man and deceives him
• E139 It is better to leave to an ENEMY at one's death than to beg of a friend in one's life
• E142 There is no little ENEMY
• E179 To ERR is human, to repent is divine, to persevere is diabolical
• E200 He that helps the EVIL hurts the good
• E205 Welcome, EVIL (mischief), if thou comest alone
• E213 EXAMPLES teach more than precepts
• E220 EXPERIENCE is the mistress of fools
• E264 Neither EYES on letters nor hands in coffers (purses)
• F109 He is neither absent without FAULT nor present without excuse
• F123 Wink at small FAULTS
• F127 Without FAVOR none will know you and with it you will not know yourself
• F135 FEAR (Suspicion) is one part of prudence
• F143 After a FEAST one scratches his head
• F200 I saw FEW die of hunger, of eating much a hundred thousand
• F329 Venture a small FISH to catch a great one (a salmon)
• F351 Keep FLAX from fire and youth from gaming
• F403 More FLIES are taken with a drop of honey than a tun of vinegar
• F410 It is better to have an open FOE than a dissembling friend
• F466 The FOOL is most fusty (absurd) when he is least foolish
• F483 He is a FOOL that makes his physician his heir
• F490 He that teaches himself has a FOOL to his master
• F540 FOOLS make feasts and wise men eat them
• F575 Better the FEET slip than the tongue
• F579 Keep thy FEET dry, thy mouth moist
• F612 He that has no ill FORTUNE is troubled with good
• F649 The sleepy FOX has seldom feathered breakfasts
• F717 One may visit a FRIEND sometimes but if he intends to be welcome he must not stay long
• F741 Have but few FRIENDS though much acquaintance
• G6 The GAINS will quit the pains
• G98 A GIFT much expected is paid, not given
• G106 GIFTS break through rocks
• G107 GIFTS enter everywhere without a wimble¹
• G125 He that GIVES quickly (in a trice) gives twice
• G126 That which is GIVEN shines, that which is eaten stinks
• G138 He that loves GLASS without G, take away L and that is he
• G164 He that GOES far to marry will either deceive or be deceived
• G190 GOD heals and the physician has the thanks (takes the fee)
• G210 GOD, our parents, and our master can never be requited
• G222 GOD sends meat and the devil sends cooks
• G233 He that is without GOD has nothing
• G236 Help thyself and GOD will help thee
• G284 GOLD is tried in the fire
• G445 Go not for every GRIEF to the physician nor for every quarrel to the lawyer nor for every thirst to the pot
• H39 HALF a word (tale) to a wise man (a good understander) is enough
• H54 HALF-WARNED (Forewarned) is half-armed (fore-armed)
• H116 Help, HANDS, for I have no lands
• H163 He that hunts two HARES loses both
• H192 Make HASTE Slowly
• H249 He that has a HEAD of wax must not walk in the sun
• H378 Take HEED of enemies (friends) reconciled and of meat twice boiled
• H382 Take HEED of the vinegar of sweet wine
• H550 He that has no HONEY in his pot let him have it in his mouth
• H553 HONEY is sweet but the bee stings
• H556 No HONEY without gall
• H636 Choose a HORSE made and a wife to make
• H667 The HORSE (ass) thinks one thing and he that saddles him another
• H727 Like HOST like guest
• H749 Before thou marry be sure of a HOUSE wherein to tarry
• H757 He set my HOUSE on fire only to roast his eggs
• H779 A little HOUSE well filled, a little land (ground) well tilled, and a little wife well willed
• H789 Whose HOUSE (head) is of glass must not throw stones at another
• H792 He may be trusted with a HOUSEFUL of unbored millstones
• H819 HUNGER is the best sauce
• H831 A good HUSBAND makes a good wife
• I11 IDLENESS is the greatest prodigality in the world
• I27 He that speaks ILL of another let him first think of himself
• I64 INDUSTRY is fortune's right hand and frugality her left
• I71 INJURIES are written in brass
• I91 IRON not used soon rusts
• J45 It is ill (no, not good) JESTING (meddling) with edged tools
• K26 The used KEY is always bright
• K75 He clips the KING's English
• K79 The KING's cheese goes half away in parings
• K81 A KING's favor is no inheritance
• K85 KINGS and bears often worry their keepers
• K87 KINGS have long arms (ears, hands)
• K110 A fat KITCHEN a lean will (testament)
• L11 LABOR as long-lived, pray as even dying
• L116 LAWS catch flies (little flies) but let the hornets (great flies) go free
• L118 They that make LAWS must not break them
• L124 A good LAWYER an evil neighbor
• L147 A small LEAK will sink a great ship
• L155 LEARNING belongs to students, riches to the careful, the world to the presumptuous, paradise to the devout
• L197 He has no LEISURE who uses it not
• L204 Who intends to have a short LENT let him take up money to pay at Easter
• L213 Let the LETTER stay for the post, not the post for the letter
• L235 A LIE stands on one leg, truth on two
• L344 Dine with LITTLE, sup with less
• L350 It is better to enjoy a LITTLE with quietness than to possess much with trouble
• L362 Many a LITTLE (Every little) makes a mickle (a great)
• L378 It is not how long but how well we LIVE
• L386 He LIVES long that lives well
• L390 He that LIVES well is learned enough
• L397 LIVING WELL is the best revenge
• L433 He that LOOKS not before finds himself behind
• L479 Follow LOVE (pleasure, glory) and it will flee, flee love (pleasure, glory) and it will follow thee
• L490 LOVE and a cough (smoke, itch) cannot be hid
• L495 LOVE and lordship like no fellowship
• L515 LOVE is the reward of love
• L545 There was never a foul LOVE nor a fair prison
• L564 He that LOVES well does punish well
• M37 Old MAIDS lead apes in hell
• M54 More MALICE than matter
• M57 The MALT is above the water
• M171 He that can catch and hold, he is the MAN of gold
• M181 He wrongs not an old MAN that steals his supper from him
• M296 A MAN of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds
• M345 No naked MAN is sought after to be rifled
• M366 The rich MAN walks to get a stomach to his meat, the poor man to get meat for his stomach.
• M374 Show a good MAN his error and he turns it to a virtue; but an ill, it doubles his fault
• M393 To a crafty MAN a crafty and a half
• M446 The blind MAN's wife needs no painting
• M555 MEN (Men's love), not walls, make the city (prince) safe
• M602 Wise MEN have their mouth (tongue) in their heart, fools their heart in their mouth (tongue)
• M615 It is good to (He is wise who can) beware by other MEN's harms
• M621 He has stolen a MANCHET¹ out of the brewer's basket
• M648 He that speaks ill of the MARE will buy her
• M695 They who MARRY where they do not love will love where they do not marry
• M744 Though the MASTIFF be gentle yet bite him not by the lip
• M764 A cold MAY and a windy makes a full barn and a findy¹
• M1005 A MISER, like a hog, does no good until he dies
• M1029 The MOB has many heads but no brains
• M1051 MONEY and good manners make the gentle-man
• M1104 Would you know what MONEY is? Go borrow some
• M1247 A close MOUTH catches no flies
• N54 He that will not when he may, when he would he shall have NAY (shall not when he will)
• N63 NECESSITY never made a good bargain
• N102 NEGLECT will kill an injury sooner than revenge
• N109 Love your NEIGHBOR, yet pull not down your hedge
• N133 He that handles a NETTLE tenderly is soonest stung
• N288 NOTHING dries sooner than tears
• N307 NOTHING is well said or done in a passion (in anger)
• N331 They that have NOTHING need fear to lose nothing
• O67 To weep (It may serve) with an ONION
• O87 An OUNCE of mother wit (discretion, wit) is worth a pOUND of clergy (learning, wit, folly)
• P29 On PAINTING and fighting look aloof
• P33 One PAIR of ears draws dry a hundred tongues
• P102 He that can have PATIENCE can have what he will
• P130 A good PAYMASTER (payer) is lord (master) of another man's purse
• P140 He that will live in PEACE and rest must hear and see and say the best
• P207 A PENNY spared (saved) is twice (twopence) got
• P210 That PENNY (halfpenny) is well spent that saves a groat¹ (penny)
• P212 Who buys by the PENNY finds¹ not only himself but others
• P261 Deceive not your PHYSICIAN, confessor, or lawyer
• P374 One may change PLACE but not change the grief (mind)
• P384 PLAIN DEALING is dead and died without issue
• P426 PLENTY makes dainty
• P431 He that by the PLOW would thrive himself must either hold or drive
• P503 To a boiling POT flies come not
• P526 POVERTY is no sin (vice), but an inconvenience
• P530 POVERTY (Luxury) wants many things but covetousness (avarice) all
• P543 PRAISE to the undeserving is severe satire
• P556 PRAYERS and provender hinder no journey
• P577 PRIDE in the van, beggary in the rear
• P612 PROSPERITY lets go the bridle
• P656 His PURSE is his best friend
• P659 A light PURSE makes a heavy heart
• R39 READING makes a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man
• R42 Hearken to REASON or she will be heard
• R64 RELIGION, credit, and the eye are not to be touched
• S42 Like SAINT GEORGE, who is ever on horseback yet never rides
• S75 Better eat SALT with philosophers of Greece than sugar with courtesans (courtiers) of Italy
• S123 SAY WELL is good but do well is better
• S192 He that tells his SECRET is another's servant (slave)
• S202 It is easy to SEE, hard to foresee
• S214 Be what thou would SEEM to be
• S246 He that has not SERVED knows not how to command
• S248 If you would be well SERVED serve yourself
• S307 Now I have a SHEEP and a cow everybody bids me good morrow
• S352 The SHIP which is large on the river is small on the sea
• S392 Keep thy SHOP and thy shop will keep thee
• S452 SILKS and satins put out the fire in the chimney (kitchen)
• S469 It is a SIN against hospitality to open your doors and shut up your countenance
• S626 Marry your SON when you will, your daughter when you can
• S657 SORROW is good for nothing but sin
• S690 SOW thin (little) mow thin (little)
• S728 He that SPEAKS much is much mistaken
• S744 Great SPENDERS are bad lenders
• S757 The diligent SPINNER has a large shift
• S852 Two dry STICKS will kindle a green one
• S968 Although the SUN shines leave not your cloak at home
• S978 The morning SUN never lasts a day
• S1006 Sleep without SUPPING and wake without owing
• T79 To swallow a TAVERN TOKEN
• T153 A THING well done is twice done (is ever done)
• T235 He that goes barefoot (sows thorns) must not plant THORNs (go barefoot)
• T257 THREE (Two) may keep counsel if two (one) be away
• T292 He that has TIME and looks for time loses time
• T317 There is a TIME to wink (gley¹) as well as to see (look even)
• T325 TIME cures every disease
• T329 TIME is money
• T332 TIME lost (past) we cannot win (recall)
• T370 One TODAY is worth two tomorrows
• T372 TODAY is yesterday's pupil
• T403 The TONGUE breaks bone though itself has none
• T404 The TONGUE is ever turning to the aching tooth
• T428 She smiles on everyone to show her fine TEETH
• T460 He that learns a TRADE has a purchase made (has an estate)
• T499 A TREE often transplanted bears not much fruit
• T548 He that sells upon TRUST loses many friends and always wants money
• T631 He that is not handsome at TWENTY, nor strong at thirty, nor rich at forty, nor wise at fifty, will never be handsome, strong, rich, or wise
• U20 Better is the USE of riches than the possessing of them
• V6 VAINGLORY is a flower that bears no corn
• V76 VIRTUE and a trade are the best portion for children
• V88 VIRTUE now is in herbs and stones and words only
• W17 A white WALL is a fool's paper
• W20 We see not what is in the WALLET behind
• W29 For WANT of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost
• W152 The WAY to be safe is never to be secure¹ (He that is secure is not safe)
• W200 WEALTH is not his who has it but his who enjoys it
• W287 The worst WHEEL of the cart makes most noise
• W290 As drunk as a WHEELBARROW
• W334 WIDE will wear but narrow will tear
• W356 He that has a WIFE has strife (care)
• W378 Who will have a handsome WIFE let him choose her upon Saturday and not upon Sunday
• W404 WILLOWS are weak yet they bind other wood
• W465 In WINE there is truth
• W509 It is a hard WINTER (The hunger must be great) when one wolf eats another
• W530 Think (Write) with the WISE (learned) but talk with the vulgar
• W616 A WOLF (fox) may change his hair but not his heart (nature, malice)
• W646 A WOMAN and a glass are ever in danger
• W676 A WOMAN's tongue is the last thing about her that dies
• W682 Choose neither WOMEN nor linen by candle-light (candle)
• W727 WONDER (Marvel, Admiration) is the daughter of ignorance
• W749 Happy (Blessed) is the WOOING that is not long a doing
• W797 Few WORDS and many deeds
• W845 He that pays beforehand has his WORK ill done
• W888 To traverse (travel through) the WORLD safely one must have the eye of a falcon, the ears of an ass, the countenance of an ape, the tongue of a mountebank, the shoulders of a camel, the mouth of a hog, and the feet of a hind
• W896 The WORLD is full of fools (knaves)
• W922 We never know the WORTH of water till the well goes dry
• W928 An ill WOUND is cured, not an ill name
• W940 Before you WRITE receive and before you give write
• Y32 YESTERDAY's bread, and this day's flesh, wine of the year past bring health