Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Purpose

• 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

• The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Loss, Secret, Purpose

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

• The purpose of money was to purchase one's freedom to pursue that which is useful and interesting.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Interesting, Purpose, Pursue

• If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be, as Poor Richard says, “the greatest prodigality'; since, as he elsewhere tells us, 'Lost time is never found again'; and 'What we call time enough always proves little enough'. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Time, Purpose, Littles

  "The Autobiography and Other Writings".

• What is the use of a new-born child ?

  Benjamin Franklin

  Children, Science, Purpose

  On being asked what was the use of a new invention, in J. Parton 'Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin' (1864) pt. 4, ch. 17

• Wherever desirable superfluities are imported, industry is excited, and thereby plenty is produced. Were only necessaries permitted to be purchased, men would work no more than was necessary for that purpose.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Men, Purpose, Wealth

  Benjamin Franklin (1824). “The Works with His Life /Franklin, Benjamin”, p.238

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