Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Opinions

• I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion about the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Mean, Thinking, Government

  Benjamin Franklin (1839). “Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin”, p.85

• For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Change, Thinking, Long

  On the Constitution (1787)

• He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Money, Motivation, Greatest Wealth

  Benjamin Franklin “Poor Richard Day by Day”, Lulu.com

• If by the liberty of the press were understood merely the liberty of discussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please: But if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating and defaming one another, I, for my part, own myself willing to part with my share of it, whenever our legislators shall please so to alter the law and shall chearfully consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others for the privilege of not being abused myself.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Mean, Political Opinions, Law

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1818). “Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin ...”, p.304, Printed for H. Colborn

• As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think the system of Morals and his Religion, as he left them to us, the best the World ever saw or is likely to see; but I apprehend it has received various corrupting Changes; and I have, with most of the present Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Jesus, Thinking, Doubt

  Benjamin Franklin (2006). “The Portable Benjamin Franklin”, p.375, Penguin

• Unless the Stream of their Importation could be turned... they will soon so outnumber us, that all the advantages we have, will not in my Opinion be able to preserve our Language, and even our Government will become precarious.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Government, Immigration, Able

  Benjamin Franklin (1931). “Educational views of Benjamin Franklin”, AMS Press

• When you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests and their selfish views.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Wisdom, Selfish, Passion

  On the Constitution (1787)

• I hope...that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion there never was a good war, or a bad peace.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Peace, War, Cutting

• I have conceived a higher opinion of the natural capacities of the black race than I had ever before entertained. Their apprehension seems as quick, their memory as strong, and their docility in every respect equal to that of white children.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Strong, Children, Memories

  Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson (2003). “A Benjamin Franklin Reader”, p.202, Simon and Schuster

• If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix'd in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Errors, Wish

  Benjamin Franklin (2016). “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”, p.21, First Avenue Editions

• I think opinions should be judged by their influences and effects; and if a man holds none that tend to make him less virtuous or more vicious, it may be concluded that he holds none that are dangerous, which I hope is the case with me.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Thinking, Men, May

  Benjamin Franklin (2006). “The Portable Benjamin Franklin”, p.366, Penguin

• All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones. In my opinion, there never was a good war or a bad peace. When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Arbitration, Opinion

• When men differ in opinion, both sides ought equally to have the advantage of being heard by the public; when Truth and Error have fair play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Errors, Play

  Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson (2003). “A Benjamin Franklin Reader”, p.61, Simon and Schuster

• Singularity in the right hath ruined many; happy those who are convinced of the general opinion.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Opinion, Conformity, Ruined

  Benjamin Franklin (2004). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.278, Barnes & Noble Publishing

• Do you sincerely declare that you love mankind in general, of what profession or religion soever? Do you think any person ought to be harmed in his body, name, or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship? Do you love truth for truth's sake; and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Thinking, Names, Body

  Benjamin Franklin, Walter Isaacson (2003). “A Benjamin Franklin Reader”, p.83, Simon and Schuster

• I think with you, that nothing is of more importance for the public weal, than to form and train up youth in wisdom and virtue. Wise and good men are in my opinion, the strength of the state; more so than riches or arms.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Wise, Thinking, Men

  Benjamin Franklin (1838). “The Works of Benjamin Franklin: Containing Several Political and Historical Tracts Not Included in Any Former Ed., and Many Letters Official and Private, Not Hitherto Published; with Notes and a Life of the Author”, p.48

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