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Notes & Quotes

    Library

     

    Quotes

    by

    Benjamin Franklin

    January 17, 2006 marks the 300th birthday of Benjamin Franklin - patriot, inventor, scientist, printer, publisher, thinker, and diplomat. Among his various accomplishments is the founding of The Library Company in Philadelphia, the nation's first successful public lending library, in 1731. As one of the first “public” libraries in the colonies, it brought about an early revolution in the dissemination of information – knowledge of the world was brought to the fingertips of its members. At the time, Franklin could not afford many books, and so he organized tradesmen, artisans and merchants to establish the Library Company, which still exists today.

    In our Brendlinger Library collection, we have a wealth of material by and about Franklin for you to explore aspects of this fascinating man. In addition, the AV Library has the audiobook of “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin” (Audiobook 116) and two documentaries (one PBS and one from the History Channel) about Franklin at DVD 347 and DVD 921. We also have a C-Span program devoted to the writings of Benjamin Franklin at Video Tape 4002. We thought we would celebrate the man by offering pithy quotes from him in this issue of N&Q. All of the following quotations are by Franklin. It is hard to believe that some of them are from the 18th century, as the words and sentiments seem so relevant to today's world.

     

    “There was never a good war or a bad peace.”
     Letter to Josiah Quincy, September 11, 1783.

    “Time is money.”
    From “Advice to Young Tradesmen,” 1748.

    “There are no gains without pains.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1745.

    “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
    At the signing of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

    “To lengthen thy life lessen thy meals.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1733.

    “Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him.”
    From “The Way to Wealth,” 1757.

    “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1733.

    “No nation was ever ruined by trade.”
    From “Thoughts on Commercial Subjects.”

    “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1746.

    “Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1735.

    “Experience keeps a dear school, yet fools will learn in no other.”
    Poor Richard's Almanac, 1743.