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;

The used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. If dost thou love life, then Do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of,

The sleeping fox catches no poultry, and that There will be sleeping enough in the grave,

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.

Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise, Poor Richard says.

Plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Work while it is today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows, as Poor Richard says; and further, Never leave till tomorrow, which you can do today. If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? Be ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your king.

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

A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will;

If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than her incomes.

expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing,

It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it. And, It is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.

Think what you do when you run in debt: you give another power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to him; you will

make poor, sneaking excuses, and by degrees come to lose your honesty and sink into base lying.

Creditors have better memories than debtors; and Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expense is constant and certain; and It is easier to build two chimneys, than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says; so, Rather go to bed supperless, than in debt.

Remember that time is money.

Remember that credit is money.

In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words: industry and frugality. Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. He that gets all he can honestly, and saves all he can, will certainly become rich.

habit took the advantage of inattention;

that knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen,

abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he forms a good plan, and then makes the execution of that plan his sole study and business.