Benjamin Franklin Money Quotes
This page contains a collection of 30 money quotes by Benjamin Franklin related to money and wealth. Some of the main ideas expressed are the importance of saving money, avoiding debt, living within your means, and the value of hard work and frugality for becoming financially secure.
Franklin advocates for industry, contentment, and finding value in things beyond material possessions. He also acknowledges that death and taxes are inevitable parts of life. The quotes are presented with an option to share each one on social media.
To understand the meaning of each quote, just click on individual quote graphics ($100 background graphic) to take you to a thorough interpretation of that quote, described with a few sentences more what was meant by each quote, below original quote.
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“Poor Richard’s Almanack” was an annual publication written and published by Benjamin Franklin from 1732 to 1758. In it, Franklin shared practical information such as weather forecasts, tide tables, and astronomical data. However, it was best known for containing words of wisdom from “Poor Richard” in the form of proverbs and sayings about thrift, work, and perseverance.
Some famous quotes from “Poor Richard’s Almanack” include “A penny saved is a penny earned” and “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” The almanac was popular among colonists and helped spread Franklin’s ideas about virtues like diligence, determination, and frugality. It played a role in shaping colonial American cultural values.
“For the best return on your money, pour your purse into your head” — Benjamin Franklin
“A light purse is a heavy curse“
“If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some”
“A little House well fill’d, a little Field well till’d, and a little Wife well will’d, are great Riches“
“Many a man thinks he is buying pleasure, when he is really selling himself to it”
“Your net worth to the world is usually determined by what remains after your bad habits are subtracted from your good ones” — Benjamin Franklin
“If you can’t pay for a thing, don’t buy it. If you can’t get paid for it, don’t sell it“
“Rather go to bed with out dinner than to rise in debt“
“A penny saved is a penny earned”
“Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody”
“Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor“
“Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is”
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes“
“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting” — Benjamin Franklin
“Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it” — Benjamin Franklin
“The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality“
(“The way to wealth is as plain as the way to market. It depends chiefly on two words, industry and frugality” is also believed to originate from Poor Richard’s Almanack)
“Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich”
“There are three faithful friends – an old wife, an old dog, and ready money”
“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants. Instead of filling a vacuum, it makes one”
“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship“
(“Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship” is from Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack)
“Great spenders are bad lenders“
“Money is of a prolific generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more”
“If you’d lose a troublesome visitor, lend him money“
“When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic”
“Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him”
“Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them everything”
(“Waste neither time nor money, but make the best use of both. Without industry and frugality, nothing will do, and with them everything” is another quote associated with Poor Richard’s Almanack)
“The use of money is all the advantage there is in having it”
“Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments”
“All wars are follies, very expensive and very mischievous ones”
“There is scarce a king in a hundred who would not … get first all the people’s money, then all their lands, and then make them and their children servants for ever”