Politics Quotes by Benjamin Franklin

Than that of defrauding the government.

— Benjamin Franklin

A Republic, if you can keep it.

— Benjamin Franklin

Passion governs, and she never governs wisely.

— Benjamin Franklin

Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

— Benjamin Franklin

I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power.

— Benjamin Franklin

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

— Benjamin Franklin

The ancients tell us what is best; but we must learn of the moderns what is fittest.

— Benjamin Franklin

In rivers and bad governments the lightest things swim at top.

— Benjamin Franklin

We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride and folly than we are taxed by government.

— Benjamin Franklin

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments.

— Benjamin Franklin

“We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

— Benjamin Franklin

If any form of government is capable of making a nation happy, ours I think bids fair now for producing that effect.…

— Benjamin Franklin

This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people…

— 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

[It was] the poverty caused by the bad influence of the English bankers on the Parliament which has caused in the colonies…

— Benjamin Franklin

To the haranguers of the populace among the ancients, succeed among the moderns your writers of political pamphlets and news-papers, and your…

— Benjamin Franklin

“They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. —written for the Pennsylvania…

— Benjamin Franklin

Whenever we attempt to mend the scheme of Providence and to interfere in the Government of the world, we had need be…

— Benjamin Franklin

I am a mortal enemy to arbitrary government and unlimited power. I am naturally very jealous for the rights and liberties of…

— Benjamin Franklin

Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free…

— Benjamin Franklin

Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into…

— Benjamin Franklin

Governments having failed the people, the people are entirely justified in assuming for themselves and essential role in government. Where a government…

— Benjamin Franklin

I have so much faith in the general government of the world by Providence that I can hardly conceive a transaction of…

— Benjamin Franklin

Friends and neighbors complain that taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones…

— Benjamin Franklin

I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders…

— Benjamin Franklin

Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government; when this support is taken away, the constitution of a free…

— Benjamin Franklin

History will also give occasion to expatiate on the advantage of civil orders and constitutions; how men and their properties are protected…

— Benjamin Franklin

“Mr. President I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am…

— Benjamin Franklin

It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part.

— Benjamin Franklin

In rivers and bad governments, the lightest things swim at the top

— Benjamin Franklin

Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both.

— Benjamin Franklin

Never trust a government that doesn't trust its own citizens with guns.

— Benjamin Franklin

The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearned, but it is still nonsense.

— Benjamin Franklin

In free governments the rulers are the servants and the people are their superiors and sovereigns.

— Benjamin Franklin

He who would trade liberty for some temporary security, deserves neither liberty nor security.

— Benjamin Franklin

We need a revolution every 200 years, because all governments become stale and corrupt after 200 years.

— Benjamin Franklin

Beer is God's way of telling us that he loves us and wants us to be happy.

— Benjamin Franklin

Where there is a free government, and the people make their own laws by their representatives, I see no injustice in their…

— Benjamin Franklin

We are more thoroughly an enlightened people, with respect to our political interests, than perhaps any other under heaven. Every man among…

— Benjamin Franklin

That wise Men have in all Ages thought Government necessary for the Good of Mankind; and, that wise Governments have always thought…

— Benjamin Franklin