Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Pleasure

• Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Thinking, Buying In

  Benjamin Franklin (1998). “Benjamin Franklin Wit and Wisdom”, p.54, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

• We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us while they afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge or in doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind of benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes and afford us pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an encumbrance and answer none of these intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we get rid of them. Death is that way.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Death, Pain, Way

  Benjamin Franklin (1986). “The Autobiography and Other Writings”, p.246, Penguin

• Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, no persuasion move thee, to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so shalt thou always live jollity; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Christmas, Integrity, Moving

• Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Life, Happiness, Men

  Benjamin Franklin (1840). “The works of Benjamin Franklin: with notes and a life of the author by J. Sparks”, p.280

• He that raises a large family does, indeed, while he lives to observe them, stand a broader mark for sorrow; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Life, Family, Sorrow

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1817). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin ...”, p.182

• Who pleasure gives, Shall joy receive

  Benjamin Franklin

  Giving, Joy, Pleasure

  Benjamin Franklin (2004). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.17, Barnes & Noble Publishing

• Every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of voice, was so perfectly well turned and well placed, that, without being interested in the subject, one could not help being pleased with the discourse; a pleasure of much the same kind with that received from an excellent piece of music. This is an advantage itinerant preachers have over those who are stationary, as the latter can not well improve their delivery of a sermon by so many rehearsals.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Voice, Pieces, Rehearsal

  Benjamin Franklin (1818). “The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin: [Autobiography”, p.114

• You must not, when you have gained a victory, use any triumphing or insulting expressions, nor show too much of the pleasure you feel; but endeavour to console your adversary, and make him less dissatisfied with himself by every kind and civil expression that may be used with truth; such as, you understand the game better than I, but you are a little inattentive, or, you play too fast; or, you had the best of the game, but something happened to divert your thoughts, and that turned it in my favour.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Expression, Games, Play

  George Walker, Benjamin Franklin, William Stopford Kenny (1841). “The chess player: by George Walker; to which are added the three games played at one and the same time by Philidor; sixty openings, mates and situations, by W. S. Kenny, with remarks, anecdotes, &c. &c., and an explanation of the round chess board”, p.10

• 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

• Our friend and we were invited aboard on a party of pleasure, which is to last forever. His chair was ready first, and he has gone before us. We could not all conveniently start together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Friendship, Party, Forever

  Benjamin Franklin, E. Sargent (1855). “The select works of Benjamin Franklin”, p.418

• Old boys have their playthings as well as young ones; the difference is only in the price.

  Benjamin Franklin

  4th Of July, Boys, Differences

  Poor Richard's Almanack, Aug. 1752

• Nothing brings more pain than too much pleasure; nothing more bondage than too much liberty.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Pain, Liberty

  Benjamin Franklin (1987). “Poor Richard's Almanack: Being the Choicest Morsels of Wisdom, Written During the Years of the Almanack's Publication”, p.49, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

• The Difficulty lies, in finding out an exact Measure but eat for Necessity, not Pleasure, for Lust knows not where Necessity ends.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Lying, Lust, Deceit

  Benjamin Franklin (2004). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.101, Barnes & Noble Publishing

• Pain wastes the Body, Pleasures the Understanding.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Pain, Understanding, Body

  Benjamin Franklin (2008). “The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac”, p.32, Nayika Publishing

• If we can sleep without dreaming, it is well that painful dreams are avoided. If, while we sleep, we can have any pleasing dreams, it is as the French say, tant gagne, so much added to the pleasure of life.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Dream, Sleep, Painful

  Benjamin Franklin (1853). “The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Written by Himself: To which is Added His Miscellaneous Essays”, p.246

• That man alone loves himself rightly who procures the greatest possible good to himself through the whole of his existence and so pursues pleasure as not to give for it more than it is worth.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Giving, One Love

  Benjamin Franklin, William-Temple Franklin (1818). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818”, p.222

• You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards... Even the mixed imperfect pleasures we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit, how much more such happiness of heaven!

  Benjamin Franklin

  Heaven, Degrees, World

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1818). “Memoirs of the life and writings of Benjamin Franklin ...”, p.2, Printed for H. Colborn

• The honest Man takes Pains, and then enjoys Pleasures; the knave takes Pleasure, and then suffers Pains.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Pain, Men, Suffering

  Benjamin Franklin (2012). “Wit and Wisdom from Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.18, Courier Corporation

• The pleasures of this world are rather from God's goodness than our own merit.

  Benjamin Franklin

  World, Merit, Pleasure

• I have heard that nothing gives an Author so great Pleasure, as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspiring, Giving, Pleasure

  Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks (1856). “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.93

• If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth. Poor man, said I, you pay too much for your whistle.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Joy, Citizens

  Benjamin Franklin (1820). “Poor Richard; or, The way to wealth”, p.23

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