Benjamin Franklin Wisdom Quotations

The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.

A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.

Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom - and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone. Who is powerful? He that governs his passions. Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.

If thou hast wit & learning, add to it Wisdom and Modesty.

Presumption first blinds a man, then sets him a running.

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom spun too fine.

What you would seem to be, be really.

When you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests and their selfish views.

It is wonderful how preposterously the affairs of the world are managed. We assemble parliaments and councils to have the benefit of collected wisdom, but we necessarily have, at the same time, the inconvenience of their collected passions, prejudices and private interests: for regulating commerce an assembly of great men is the greatest fool on earth

Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended

Life's Tragedy is that we get old to soon and wise too late.

God helps them that help themselves.

A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.” Benjamin Franklin

Without Freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom;and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.

A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contently.

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.

Where sense is wanting, everything is wanting.

The doors of wisdom are never shut.

Who is wise? He that learns from everyone.

Cold & cunning come from the north: But cunning sans wisdom is nothing worth.

The most exquisite folly is made of wisdom too fine spun