Benjamin Franklin

That felicity, when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of the first.

We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement.

But one does not dress for private company as for a public ball. ’Tis perhaps only negligence.

Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labour wears, while the used key is always bright,

A man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.

Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all 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.

So convenient a thing is it to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

One to-day is worth two to-morrows,

He wished to please everybody; and, having little to give, he gave expectations.

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.

There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin.

Constant dropping wears away stones; and by diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and little strokes fell great oaks.

But mark how luxury will enter families, and make a progress, in spite of principle: being called one morning to breakfast, I found it in a China bowl, with a spoon of silver!

We may make these times better, if we bestir ourselves.

Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

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

Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.

In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it.

Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee: