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;

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while 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,

Lost time is never found again; and What we call time enough, always proves little enough.

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.

At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter.

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

Plough deep while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.

One today is worth two ...

Never leave till tomorrow, which you ...

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...

Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.

Leisure is time for doing something useful;

A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two ...

Industry gives comfort, and plenty,...

Flee pleasures, and they will...

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

Trusting too much to others’ care is the ruin of many; for In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it; but a man’s own care is profitable;

If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; all for ...

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.

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.

Women and wine, game and deceit, Make the wealth small and the want great.

What maintains one vice would bring up two children. You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, Many a little makes a mickle.

Beware of little expenses; A small leak will sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love, shall beggars prove; and moreover,...

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing,

Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse; Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.

Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more saucy.

It is easier to suppress the first desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.

It is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to swell in order to equal the ox.

Vessels large may venture more, But little boats shoul...

Pride that dines on vanity, sups on contempt.

Pride breakfasted with Plenty, Dined with Poverty, And supped with Infamy.

And, after all, of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in t...

Think what you do when you run in debt: you give another powe...

The second vice is lying; the first is running into debt.

Lying rides on Debt’s back.

Creditors have better memories than debtors;

Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

Those have a short Lent, who owe money to be paid at Easter.

For age and want save while you may; No morning sun lasts a whole day.

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,

Rather go to bed supperless, t...