Skip to content

Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows.

— Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard's Almanack (1733)

Another quote →

More quotes by Benjamin Franklin

Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes!

Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins.

Creditors have better memories than debtors; and creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

Poor Richard's Almanack (1758)

If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.

Apology for Printers (1730)

All Benjamin Franklin quotes →

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Benjamin Franklin (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.