Ben Franklin has been an interesting figure in my life. Not exactly sure why except for he was a pretty cool guy. We have a dozen books about him to include the literary classic Ben and Me: An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos. 
Ben became so much of our family life that it was hands-down the number one choice of any book report or history paper that my children had to complete. I still to this day believe Ben Franklin could be a master thesis for one of them.
In my office, I have a few of Ben Franklin’s memorable quotes framed which I would like to share. So many of them are still very relevant to this day.
“If you can’t pay for a thing, don’t buy it. If you can’t get paid for it don’t sell it. Do this, and you will have calm and drowsy nights, with all of the good business you have now and none of the bad. If you have time, don’t wait for time.”
“Read much, but not many books.”
“They that will be counseled cannot be helped. If you do not hear reason, she will rap you on the knuckles.”
“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”
“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”
“Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don’t have brains enough to be honest.”
“I have met the enemy, and it is the eyes of other people.”
“Well done is better than well said.”
“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.”
“He that waits upon fortune is never sure of dinner.”
“Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What’s a sundial in the shade.”
“Work as if you were to live a hundred years, pray as if you were to die tomorrow.”
“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.”
“There are two ways to be happy: We must either diminish our wants or augment our means…either will do…the result is the same and it is for each man to decide for himself and to do that which happens to be easier.”
“The heart of a fool is in how mouth, but the mouth of a wise man is in his heart.”
“Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn.”
“The things which hurt, instruct.”
“Lying rides upon debt’s back.”
“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.”
Wisdom certainly seems to be timeless. –jd