The Way to Wealth: Ben Franklin on Money and Success

by Benjamin Franklin

We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly;

God helps them that help themselves,

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears;

Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of,

Lost time is never found again;

Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry makes all things easy; and He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him.

Industry need not wish,

Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them.

Diligence is the mother of good luck, and God gives all things to industry.

Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king.

Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.

Industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect.

The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands;

The second vice is lying; the first is running into debt. And again, Lying rides on Debt’s back.