Category: Lit & Crit

“We embarked for Calais with a Number of Passengers who had never been before at Sea. They would previously make a hearty Breakfast, because if the Wind should fail, we might not get over till Supper-time. Doubtless they though that when they had paid for their Breakfast they should have a Right to it, and that when they had swallowed it they were sure of it. But they had scarce been out half an Hour before the Sea laid Claim to it, and they were oblig’d to deliver it up.” – Benjamin Franklin, “Letter to Mary Stevenson” (September 14, 1767)

“It sometimes is cloudy, it rains, it hails; again ‘tis clear and pleasant, and the Sun shines on us. Take one thing with another, and the World is a pretty good sort of a World; and ‘tis our Duty to make the best of it and be thankful. One’s true Happiness depends more upon one’s own Judgement of one’s self, on a Consciousness of Rectitude in Action and Intention, and in the Approbation of those few who judge impartially, than upon the Applause of the unthinking undiscerning Multitude, who are apt to cry Hosanna today, and tomorrow, Crucify him.” Benjamin Franklin, “Letter to Jane Mecom” (March 1, 1766)

“Who is wise? He that learns from every One.
Who is powerful? He that governs his Passions.
Who is rich? He that is content.
Who is that? Nobody.”
– Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1755

“The first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one’s self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise Counsel.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1754

“Success has ruin’d many a Man.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1752

“Mankind are very odd Creatures: One Half censure what they practise, the other half practise what they censure; the rest always say and do as they ought.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1752

“There are three things extremely hard, Steel, a Diamond and to know one’s self.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1750

“ ‘Tis not improbable that a Man may receive more solid Satisfaction from Pudding, while he is living, than from Praise, after he is dead.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1750 (emphases in original)

“9 men in 10 are suicides.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved, 1749

“One Man may be more cunning than another, but not more cunning that every body else.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1745

“There are no fools so troublesome as those that have wit.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1745

“No gains without pains.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1745

“Death takes no bribes.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1742

“Wish not so much to live long as to live well.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“Let thy vices die before thee.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“If you wou’d not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten, Either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“Who has deceiv’d thee so oft as thyself?” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“There are three faithful friends, an old wife, an old dog, and ready money.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1738

“The noblest question in the world is What Good may I do in it?” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1737 (emphasis in original)

“The greatest monarch on the proudest throne, is oblig’d to sit upon his own arse.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1737

“He that would live in peace & at ease, Must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1736

“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1735

“Men & Melons are hard to know.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1733

“To lengthen thy Life, lessen thy Meals.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1733

“The poor have little, beggars none, the rich too much, enough not one.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard, 1733 (emphasis in original)

“Few reverses in this changeful world are more complete and disheartening than that of a traveller, suddenly unhorsed, in the middle of the wilderness.” – Washington Irving, Astoria

“Outrages are frequently committed on the natives by thoughtless or mischievous white men: the Indians retaliate according to a law of their code, which requires blood for blood; their act of what with them is pious vengeance resounds throughout the land and is represented as wanton and unprovoked; the neighborhood is roused to arms; a war ensues, which ends in the destruction of half the tribe, the ruin of the rest and their expulsion from their hereditary homes. Such is too often the real history of Indian warfare, which in general is traced up only to some vindictive act of a savage; while the outrage of the scoundrel white man that provoked it is sunk in silence.” – Washington Irving, Astoria

“It’s strange how easily one falls into it. You have fully decided never to marry; and then, in the springtime, you go to the country; the weather is warm; the summer is beautiful; the fields are full of flowers; you meet a young girl at some friend’s house—crash! all is over. You return married!” – Guy de Maupassant, “My Wife” (trans. McMaster, et al.)

“A well-thought-out story doesn’t need to resemble real life. Life itself tries with all its might to resemble a well-crafted story.” – Isaac Babel, “My First Fee” (trans. Peter Constantine)