Benjamin Franklin was a statesman, diplomat, inventor, and scientist. He signed both the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He persuaded the French to fight with us against
the British in the Revolutionary War. And he founded the University of Pennsylvania. Here are
some of his best quotes:
“A nation of well-informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God
has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins.”
“Ordaining of laws in favor of one part of the nation to the prejudice and oppression of another is certainly the most erroneous and mistaken policy…”
“An equal dispensation of protection, rights, privileges, and advantages, is what every part is entitled to, and ought to enjoy.”
“Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.”
“This sacred privilege is so essential to free governments, that the security of property, and the freedom of speech always go together; and in those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything else his own…
Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.”
“Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”
“Let me, then, not fail to praise my God continually, for it is his due, and it is all I can return
for his many favors and great goodness to me; and let me resolve to be virtuous, that I may be
happy, that I may please him who is delighted to see me happy.”