Benjamin Franklin Quotes About War

• War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is.
  Revolution is when you decide that for yourself.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Government, Guy

• Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Funny, Life

  Benjamin Franklin (2007). “Poor Richard's Almanack”, p.98, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

• All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Motivational, Attitude, War

• They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Happiness, Peace

  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.270

• You may delay, but time will not.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Life, Motivational

  Benjamin Franklin (1998). “Benjamin Franklin Wit and Wisdom”, p.43, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.

• Tis a common observation here that our cause is the cause of all mankind, and that we are fighting for their liberty in defending our own.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Fighting, Liberty

  Benjamin Franklin, Ralph Louis Ketcham (2003). “The Political Thought of Benjamin Franklin”, p.303, Hackett Publishing

• Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Men, May

  Benjamin Franklin (1905). “The Life of Benjamin Franklin: Written by Himself. Now First Edited from Original Manuscripts and from His Printed Correspondence and Other Writings”

• There seem to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbors. This is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture, the only honest way, wherein man receives a real increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favor, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Life, Cheating, Real

  Benjamin Franklin (1819). “Memoirs of the life and writings of B.F. ...”, p.60

• Even peace may be purchased at too high a price.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Peace, War, May

• By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Inspirational, Motivational, Softball

  Benjamin Franklin, The Secret Libraries (2016). “Benjamin Franklin Quotes... Vol. 23: Motivational and Inspirational Life Quotes by Benjamin Franklin”

• Man will ultimately be governed by God or by tyrants.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Men, Tyrants

• There was never a good war, or a bad peace.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Peace, War, 4th Of July

• The way to secure peace is to be prepared for war. They that are on their guard, and appear ready to receive their adversaries, are in much less danger of being attacked, than the supine, secure, and negligent.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Way, Danger

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1809). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin ...”, p.235

• All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Money, War, Battle

  Benjamin Franklin, E. Sargent (1855). “The select works of Benjamin Franklin”, p.459

• When will mankind be convinced and agree to settle their difficulties by arbitration?

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Arbitration, Compromise

• He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows nor judge all he sees.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Peace, War, Self Improvement

  Benjamin Franklin (2008). “The Way to Wealth and Poor Richard's Almanac”, p.23, Nayika Publishing

• Courteous Reader, Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, held in high esteem of old, by the Wise and the Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight in Battle, in short, no important affair was undertaken without first consulting an Astrologer.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Wise, War, Fighting

• A highwayman is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang as when single; and a nation that makes an unjust war is only a great gang.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Peace, War, Unjust

  Benjamin Franklin (1836). “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.483

• 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

• A little neglect may breed great mischief. ... For want of a nail, the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe, the horse was lost; for want of a horse, the battle was lost; for want of the battle, the war was lost.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Time, Horse, War

• Wars are not paid for in wartime. The bill comes later.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Money, War, Bills

• There seems to be three ways for a nation to acquire wealth: the first is by war...this is robbery; the second by commerce, which is generally cheating; the third by agriculture, the only honest way.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Cheating, War, Agriculture

• There never was a good war, or a bad peace.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Good War

  "The Works of Benjamin Franklin".

• There is no kind of dishonesty into which otherwise good people more easily and frequently fall than that of defrauding the government.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Fall, Government

  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.128

• It is the duty of mankind on all suitable occasions to acknowledge their dependence on the Divine Being... Almighty God would mercifully interpose and still the rage of war among the nations... He would take this province under His protection, confound the designs and defeat the attempts of its enemies, and unite our hearts and strengthen our hands in every undertaking that may be for the public good, and for our defense and security in this time of danger.

  Benjamin Franklin

  War, Heart, Hands

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