What is Benjamin Franklin's famous quote?

Asked by: Leon Kessler  |  Last update: March 17, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (19 votes)

Benjamin Franklin's most famous quote is often considered to be, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," from an 1789 letter, while another well-known one is, "Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety," from 1775, highlighting themes of life, liberty, and wisdom. He's also known for proverbs from Poor Richard's Almanack, like "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise".

What was Benjamin Franklin's powerful quote?

“Don't throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.” “He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows or judge all he sees.” “Well done is better than well said.” “A right Heart exceeds all.”

What is the most famous quote ever said?

There's no single "most famous" quote, but top contenders include Neil Armstrong's "That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind," Shakespeare's "To be, or not to be," and FDR's "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," with others like "I have a dream" and "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" also highly recognized across different contexts. 

What is Franklin's famous line?

Benjamin Franklin has many famous lines, but some of the most well-known are "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes" and "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety," alongside practical advice from Poor Richard's Almanack, like "Time is money" and "Well done is better than well said". His quotes cover themes of industry, virtue, and self-improvement, often emphasizing action over words. 

What were Ben Franklin's last words?

Benjamin Franklin's reported last words were, "A dying man can do nothing easily," uttered to his daughter, Sarah, when she suggested he move to a more comfortable position in bed as he was struggling to breathe. He died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84, with these words reflecting his struggle with his final illness, according to The National Constitution Center.
 

Benjamin Franklin's Famous Quotes

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What is the most comforting quote for death?

The best comfort quotes for death focus on love's permanence, memory, and finding strength, with popular ones including "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal; love leaves a memory no one can steal" (Irish Proverb), "What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply becomes a part of us" (Helen Keller), and "Grief is the price we pay for love" (Queen Elizabeth II). Other favorites emphasize living fully, like "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened" (Dr. Seuss).
 

What was Ben Franklin's IQ?

While Benjamin Franklin never took an IQ test, historians and psychologists estimate his IQ to be around 160, placing him in the "genius" or "extraordinary genius" category, based on his vast achievements as a statesman, inventor, writer, and diplomat, though some estimates vary slightly. This estimation is derived from studies like Catharine Morris Cox's, which analyzed historical figures' works and contributions.
 

What was Benjamin Franklin's moral code?

Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. JUSTICE.

What are two famous quotes?

Here are two famous quotes: "To be, or not to be, that is the question," by William Shakespeare, and "Be the change that you wish to see in the world," attributed to Mahatma Gandhi, both offering profound insights into life, purpose, and action. 

Who first said time is money?

"Time is money" is an aphorism that is claimed to have originated in "Advice to a Young Tradesman", an essay by Benjamin Franklin that appeared in George Fisher's 1748 book, The American Instructor: or Young Man's Best Companion, in which Franklin wrote, "Remember that time is money."

What is the wisest quote ever?

There's no single "wisest quote ever," as wisdom is subjective, but contenders often center on humility, self-awareness, and action, with Socrates' "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing" being a classic for acknowledging limits, while Confucius' "Only the wisest and stupidest of men never change" highlights adaptability, and Maya Angelou's "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude" emphasizes personal power. Other profound ideas include focusing on empathy, learning from failure, and taking courageous action, as seen in quotes from Gandhi, Oprah, and Peter Drucker. 

What is a cool 3-word quote?

Cool three-word quotes offer powerful inspiration, focusing on action, mindset, or simplicity, with popular examples including "Seize the day," "Just do it," "Never give up," "Life is awesome," "Trust the process," and "Good vibes only," embodying themes of seizing opportunity, perseverance, positivity, and self-belief. 

What is the greatest line of all time?

A jury consisting of 1,500 film artists, critics, and historians selected "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn", spoken by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in the 1939 American Civil War epic Gone with the Wind, as the most memorable American movie quotation of all time.

What is the most famous quote of all time?

There's no single "most famous" quote, but top contenders include Neil Armstrong's "That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind," Shakespeare's "To be, or not to be," and FDR's "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," with others like "I have a dream" and "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" also highly recognized across different contexts. 

What is a patriotic quote from Benjamin Franklin?

Benjamin Franklin expressed the goal of America's experiment in liberty when he said, “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.”

What is Ben Franklin's epitaph?

“The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.”⁠

What is the most beautiful quote in the world?

Famous Quotes

  • “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” —Helen Keller.
  • “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.” —

What is a 3 quote?

Organisations sometimes purchase technology based on an old myth that three quotes are needed to deliver value. On the face of it, the process seems to make sense. Three resellers are approached to provide pricing for a solution or project, and you receive three quotes.

What is a two-sided quote?

Two-sided means they will offer to buy (bid price) and quote a price to sell (ask price). Think of the bid as the wholesale price and the ask as the retail price. They buy at a wholesale price and sell at a retail price.

What is Ben Franklin's most famous quote?

Benjamin Franklin's most famous sayings often center on thrift, industry, and wisdom, with "A penny saved is a penny earned" being widely attributed, though he wrote variations like "A penny saved is two pence clear," emphasizing saving money as earning it. Other popular quotes include "Time is money" and his famous observation, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes". 

What is the Ben Franklin rule?

He was a self-taught man and constantly worked to improve himself. Franklin planned and managed his time and activities in a disciplined way. A tool he developed for himself was the five-hour rule. The rule dictates that five hours each week must be spent learning – one hour each day, excepting weekends.

What are the 12 principles of Ben Franklin?

Then he considered various virtues that, if mastered, would counteract his unwanted behavior. His list of 13: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility.

What is Oprah Winfrey's IQ?

While Oprah Winfrey's exact IQ isn't publicly confirmed by an official test, some sources suggest a high score, with one educational site referencing a reported Wechsler IQ z-score of 2.73, which would translate to an estimated IQ around 140-141 (above the average of 100, indicating very superior intelligence). This aligns with her widely recognized intelligence, business acumen, and media influence, though official figures are speculative. 

Who has 325 IQ?

Michael Kearney's IQ

Michael Kearney's exceptional intelligence was confirmed when he achieved a reported score of 325 on a Stanford-Binet test at just 6 years old. He completed his college studies at the young age of 10 and by 17, he was already a university lecturer.

What is Elon Musk's IQ score?

There's no official IQ score for Elon Musk, but estimates vary wildly, from around 100-110 (average) by some biographers, claiming no evidence for higher, to others guessing over 130 or even 155 (genius level), often linked to reported high SAT scores or comparison to figures like Einstein, though Musk himself downplays IQ scores, valuing real-world innovation and problem-solving more.