Words from Benjamin Franklin
The kids and I are studying the U.S. presidents, and though Franklin wasn't a president, he's such an important figure in our country's history, I decided to get some books about him from the library to read aloud. I've been freshly reminded of just how much he got done in his life..it's really quite amazing.
And did you know he was the youngest in a family of 17 children? The Franklins had almost as many kids as the Duggars do!
Anyway, after reading about him, I was inspired to share some of his quotes on topics we talk about here.
"Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor."
Love, love, love this one. It's just what I was trying to say when I wrote my contentment series...all the money in the world won't make you happy if you haven't learned to be content.
"He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money."
Even those of us who are frugal aren't free from the trap of thinking money is the answer to everything. Is it important? Yep. But it's not the only thing that matters.
"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting."
Yes. If you don't know how to save, no amount of money will ever be enough.
"If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some; for he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing."
So true. The pain of being a slave to debt is nothing to sneeze at...how much better to spend wisely and be free of debt.
Here's one more contentment quote to finish things off:
Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion.
Ok, never mind. I have to include one more for me to remember when I blog! 😉
"If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed."
Do you have a favorite Ben Franklin quote?
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Today's 365 post: The newest pianist
Joshua's 365 post: When the house gets cold...
These are great quotes to live by...he was a smart, smart man.
Benjamin Franklin was not only brilliant, he was apparently well read in relatively obscure religious books. In his last quote, "Who is rich...." he actually was quoting from the the Jewish moral commentary "Ethics of the Fathers" written between 20o B.C. - 200 A.D.
"Who is rich? He who is content with his lot"
Guess some ideas are universal, and timeless.
Oh my Kristen, I love all of these quotes. Such a wise man. Thanks for sharing.
Great quotes.
Can you imagine your words living this long after you? That's every writer's dream, isn't it?
Kristen's will be 'you don't have to make yogurt' 🙂
Still waiting for that bumper sticker!
I think Benjamin Franklin was an amazing inventor and scholar. The saddest thing about his life is that after his is son died he renounced his Christianity. Very sad end to an extraordinary life.
There's a lot of sad things in his life - like his relationship with his son in general and his reputation as a womanizer
I have to say, that's something that's been sort of eye-opening about reading these biographies...these great men had some pretty serious short-comings as well. I don't know if my childhood books glossed over these or I just forgot them or what!
He was a very wise man. My favorite Ben quote is: "Fish and visitors stink after three days." I found this out the hard way when my husband and I had visitors almost non-stop right after our daughter was born.
My sister in law says this when she and her family come to visit. I didn't realize it was a Ben Franklin quote! How funny!
I love quotes and sayings from Benjamin Franklin... so much so, I even bought a book of them! Thomas Jefferson is great too for nuggets of wisdom! ~ Ellen
These are great! Always liked that guy.
I didn't read the other comments, so I'm sorry if this is a repeat. Love this. Another fun Ben Franklin fact -- he was the oldest man to sign the constitution at (I think) 74!
"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?" ~ Benjamin Franklin.
Not constitution -- Declaration of Independence. Whoops.
I vaguely remember that Ben Franklin signed five important documents in American history--the Declaration, Constitution, Articles of Confederation (?), Maybe a treaty ending the French and Indian War and/or Revolutionary War? Can't really remember them all, but I'm sure the Constitution and Declaration were included.
He did a lot of important work when he was quite old...that's something I hadn't realized until we read these books.
Thank you for this!!:)
Franklin isn't really a subject we study over here in the UK. I've come across some of his quotes as I participated in a Dale Carnegie course that was so many years ago I'm not sure I didn't actually imagine it!?!
I'd actually like to comment on something off subject... it's the amazing added benefit that homeschooling obviously brings! Wow imagine going over all the stuff you were taught as a kid, but now as an adult - I'm interested in things now I never was as a youngster and didn't really have the capacity (concentration) to understand. My 6-year-old asks me about things and I have to Google it because I don't know the answer. This post has really made me think (I need to see what I can do to become more familiar with the curriculum at school and try and find some time on it), but not for the reason it was written!
That is true...my mom says the same thing about learning all kinds of things while homeschooling my siblings and me!
I love that last quote!
My husband is enjoying reading through his autobiography at the moment -- have you read it?
I haven't, actually! But I'm enjoying the books we're reading about Franklin, even though they're just elementary level.
We DID talk last night about what an autobiography was, though...my younger ones didn't know the term yet.
We are in the middle of studying the life of Franklin as well. My favorite quote so far has be from his father. Ben and a couple friends had taken some stones from a construction site to build a small pier into a salt marsh. While being punish Ben argued that it was very useful work to build such a pier. His father's response, "nothing was useful that was not honest.
Frugal girl you need a proof reader:
I've been freshly reminded me of just how much he got done in his life..it's really quite amazing.
Ha! That's what happens when you write a sentence one way first, then change it around a bit, and forget to delete some words. Whoops.
I think most of us can overlook a typo.
Clearly, I can. Hee.
I guest posted a couple of days ago and when I checked it out on the other blog I realised I'd professed to be an 'inspiring minimalist' rather than an 'aspiring minimalist' - my first reaction was nervous laughter followed by a deepening red colour of the face and neck! Obviously I requested it be changed - some typos just slip through that net!
Two of Franklin's famous quotations that I remember seem to be your philosophy of life, Kristin, at least when you had your early schedule!
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
One thing that has had me thoughtful for several years when it comes to being a menu planner and family cook....."a fat kitchen maketh a lean will".
I still remember a book I read in elementary school about Ben Franklin called "Ben and Me". It was about a mouse who lived in Ben Franklin's hat and had adventures with him. It was a fun and interesting book and it really made the history come alive for me. You might be able to find it at the public library.
Worth a look--your kids will love it!