Quotes by Founding Fathers - Page 2

Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theatre of Action; and bidding an Affectionate farewell to this August body under whose orders I have so long acted, I here offer my Commission, and take my leave of all the employments of public life. (Address to Congress on Resigning Commission Dec 23, 1783)
George Washington
True friendship is a plant of slow growth and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation.
George Washington
Fatigue is the best pillow.
Benjamin Franklin
A man who would sacrifice freedom for security deserves neither.
Benjamin Franklin
Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.
George Washington
To find out a girl's faults, praise her to her girlfriends.
Benjamin Franklin
Work as if you were to live one hundred years pray as if you were to die tomorrow.
Benjamin Franklin
A man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all the doctrines he holds are true, and all he rejects are false.
Benjamin Franklin
If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.
Benjamin Franklin
If a man could have half of his wishes, he would double his troubles.
Benjamin Franklin
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.
Benjamin Franklin
People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both
Benjamin Franklin
Vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful.
Benjamin Franklin
The way to be safe is never to be secure.
Benjamin Franklin
A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Benjamin Franklin
Carelessness does more harm than a want of knowledge.
Benjamin Franklin
Philosophy is common sense with big words.
James Madison
Would you persuade speak of interest not of reason.
Benjamin Franklin
Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.
Benjamin Franklin
You will find the key to success under the alarm clock.
Benjamin Franklin
Nothing is more fatal to health than an overcare of it.
Benjamin Franklin
Without love what are we worth? Eighty-nine cents! Eighty-nine cents worth of chemicals walking around lonely.
Benjamin Franklin
The securest place is a prison cell, but there is no liberty
Benjamin Franklin
A cheerful face is nearly as good for an invalid as healthy weather.
Benjamin Franklin
In humility imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Benjamin Franklin
As the cool and deliberate sense of the community ought, in all governments, and actually will, in all free governments, ultimately prevail over the views of its rulers; so there are particular moments in public affairs when the people, stimulated by some irregular passion, or some illicit advantage, or misled by the artful misrepresentations of interested men, may call for measures which they themselves will afterwards be the most ready to lament and condemn.
James Madison
After three days men grow weary, of a wench, a guest, and weather rainy.
Benjamin Franklin
Beware of little expenses a small leak will sink a great ship.
Benjamin Franklin
My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
George Washington
How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!
Benjamin Franklin
The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality: that is, waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality nothing will do, and with them everything.
Benjamin Franklin
If men are so wicked with religion what would they be without it?
Benjamin Franklin
O vitae Philosophia dux! O virtutum indagatrix expultrixque vitiorum! Unus dies, bene et ex praeceptis tuis actus, peccanti immortalitati est anteponendus.translation (non-literal):O philosophy, life’s guide! O searcher of virtues and expeller of vices! Just a single day lived well and according to your lessons is to be preferred to an eternity of errors.— Cicero, As quoted in Ben Franklin’s Autobiography
Benjamin Franklin
Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.
Benjamin Franklin
The reflection upon my situation and that of this army produces many an uneasy hour when all around me are wrapped in sleep. Few people know the predicament we are in.
George Washington
The means of defence agst. foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home.
James Madison
Never ruin an apology with an excuse.
Benjamin Franklin
Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.
Benjamin Franklin
Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.
Benjamin Franklin
It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.
George Washington
The greatest monarch on the proudest throne is obliged to sit upon his own arse.
Benjamin Franklin
He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.
Benjamin Franklin
Keep your eyes wide open before marriage half shut afterwards.
Benjamin Franklin
Early to bed and early to rise Makes a man healthy wealthy and wise.
Benjamin Franklin
We must never despair our situation has been compromising before and it has changed for the better so I trust it will again. If difficulties arise we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times.
George Washington
So convenient a thing to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for every thing one has a mind to do.
Benjamin Franklin
No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
James Madison
Those who have committed no faults want no pardon. We are only defending what we deem our indisputable rights.
George Washington
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy, humanity, and interest.
George Washington
If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.
George Washington
God heals and the doctor takes the fees.
Benjamin Franklin
Since the general civilization of mankind I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.
James Madison
... I think this Law, by which I am punished, is both unreasonable in itself, and particularly severe... Polly Baker
Benjamin Franklin
Today is yesterday's pupil.
Benjamin Franklin
If you desire many things many things will seem but a few.
Benjamin Franklin
Lost Time is never found again.
Benjamin Franklin
Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools that don't have brains enough to be honest.
Benjamin Franklin
Great hopes make everything great possible.
Benjamin Franklin
All would live long but none would be old.
Benjamin Franklin
Every new and successful example, therefore, of a perfect separation between the ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance; and I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in showing that religion and government will both exist in greater purity the less they are mixed together.
James Madison