Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Character

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  A good conscience is a continual Christmas.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Happiness, Christmas, Sarcastic

  Benjamin Franklin (2004). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.92, Barnes & Noble Publishing

• The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Wisdom, Honesty, Integrity

  "Gleanings among the Sheaves, The First Lesson", as quoted in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations, p. 878-82, 1922.

• It takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Leadership, Character, Deeds Done

• If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practised it on one another.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Christian, Character, Practice

  "The Works of Benjamin Franklin".

• Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Freedom, Character, People

  Benjamin Franklin (1840). “The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters, Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author”, p.297

• History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage of a religious character among private persons; the mischiefs of superstition, and the excellency of the Christian religion above all others, ancient or modern.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Christian, Education, Religious

  Benjamin Franklin (1844). “The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Edition, and Many Letters, Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author”, p.573

• I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; like those among men who live by sharping and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Country, Food, Character

  Letter to Sarah Bache, January 26, 1784.

• There is much difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Character, Men, Differences

  Benjamin Franklin (2004). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.62, Barnes & Noble Publishing

• Nothing is more important for the public wealth than to form and train youth in wisdom and virtue. Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Character, People, Important

• To be thrown upon one's own resources is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previosly unsusceptible.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Moving, Character, Energy

• Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair to rise in distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level of themselves.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Pain, Character, Despair

  Benjamin Franklin (1848). “The works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: Consisting of essays, humorous, moral, and literary: with his life, written by himself”, p.209, S. Andrus

• Do not, however, mistake me. It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Honesty, Mistake, Character

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1817). “The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin .. Comprising a Series of Letters on Miscellaneous, Litarary, and Political Subjects: Written Between the Years 1753 and 1790; Illustrating the Memoirs of His Public and Private Life, and Developing the Secret History of His Political Transactions and Negociations. Now First Published from the Originals”, p.250

• It is much to be lamented that a man of Franklin's general good character and great influence should have been an unbeliever in Christianity, and also have done as much as he did to make others unbelievers.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Character, Men, Should Have

  Benjamin Franklin (1962). “Representative selections: with introduction, bibliography, and notes”

• 'tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Honesty, Character, Thinking

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1817). “The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin .. Comprising a Series of Letters on Miscellaneous, Litarary, and Political Subjects: Written Between the Years 1753 and 1790; Illustrating the Memoirs of His Public and Private Life, and Developing the Secret History of His Political Transactions and Negociations. Now First Published from the Originals”, p.250

• There never was a good knife made of bad steel.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Character, Knives

• A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Character, Men, Perfect

  Benjamin Franklin (2008). “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”, p.134, Applewood Books

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