The Wit and Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety...

Freedom is not a gift bestowed upon us by other men, but a right that belongs to us by the laws of God and nature.

This will be the best security for maintaining our liberties. 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 religion of ignorance that tyranny begins.

...it is a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.

Where liberty dwells, there is my country.

...a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles ...is absolutely necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty and keep a government free.

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

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.

Sell not...liberty to purchase power.

In free governments, the rulers are the servants and the people their superiors and sovereigns.

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

I hope...that all mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace.

Men will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.

The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.

Gentlemen, we must now hang together, or we shall most assuredly hang separately.

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be certain except death and taxes.

History affords us many instances of the ruin of states...the ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation to the prejudice and oppression of another, is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy...An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy...

If there is no menu on the left side of the screen, you need to click here to activate the menu.