Benjamin Franklin - Collected Quotes

"By the word simplicity, is not always meant folly or ignorance; but often, pure and upright Nature, free from artifice, craft or deceitful ornament." (Benjamin Franklin,  Poor Richard's Almanack, 1733-1758)

"A new truth is a truth, an old error is an error." (Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1734)

"There has not been any science so much esteemed and honored as this of mathematics, nor with so much industry and vigilance become the care of great men, and labored in by the potentates of the world, viz. emperors, kings, princes, etc." (Benjamin Franklin, "On the Usefulness of Mathematics", 1735)

"What science can there be more noble, more excellent, more useful for men, more admirably high and demonstrative, than this of the mathematics?" (Benjamin Franklin, "On the Usefulness of Mathematics", 1735)

"Whatever may have been imputed to some other studies under the notion of insignificancy and loss of time, yet these [mathematics], I believe, never caused repentance in any, except it was for their remissness in the prosecution of them." (Benjamin Franklin, "On the Usefulness of Mathematics", 1735)

"It seems to me, that if statesmen had a little more arithmetic, or were accustomed to calculation, wars would be much less frequent." (Benjamin Franklin, [letter to his sister, Mrs. Jane Mecom] 1787)

"An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." (Benjamin Franklin)

"Can anything be constant in a world which is eternally changing?" (Benjamin Franklin)

"Mathematics originally signifies any kind of discipline or learning, but now it is taken for that science which teaches or contemplates whatever is capable of being numbered or measured." (Benjamin Franklin)

"Nor is it of much Importance to us to know the Manner in which Nature executes her laws; 'tis enough to know the Laws themselves." (Benjamin Franklin)

"The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest." (Benjamin Franklin)

"The art of concluding from experience and observation consists in evaluating probabilities, in estimating if they are high or numerous enough to constitute proof. This type of calculation is more complicated and more difficult than one might think. It demands a great sagacity generally above the power of common people." (Benjamin Franklin)

"The usefulness of some particular parts of the mathematics in the common affairs of human life, has rendered some knowledge of them very necessary to a great part of mankind, and very convenient to all the rest that are any way conversant beyond the limits of their own particular callings." (Benjamin Franklin)

"Truth and sincerity have a certain distinguishing native lustre about them which cannot be perfectly counterfeited; they are like fire and flame, that cannot be painted." (Benjamin Franklin)

"What signifies knowing the Names, if you know not the Natures of things." (Benjamin Franklin)