--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do not let fancy outrun your means." description: "\"Do not let fancy outrun your means.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png" --- # Do not let fancy outrun your means. ![“Do not let fancy outrun your means.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png) > “Do not let fancy outrun your means.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoid spending beyond your resources; prioritize practicality over showy expenses. **In simple terms:** Don’t spend more than you earn. Key Takeaway Live within your means. Themes financial prudence humility practicality Mood cautious pragmatic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal finance - everyday shopping - gift giving Key Concepts budgeting self‑control Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance frugality with occasional indulgence? - What defines “fancy” in your life? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine opportunities for growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Fancy Outrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy-outrun-5627341/) [Let Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-fancy-1335634/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Outrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outrun/) [Outrun Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outrun-means-5627342/) ## Related quotes > [Let fancy still in my sense in Lethe steep; If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-fancy-still-in-my-sense-in-lethe-steep-if-it-be-thus-to-dream/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ever let the Fancy roam, Pleasure never is at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cowper/ever-let-the-fancy-roam-pleasure-never-is-at-home/) [William Cowper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cowper/) > [You are a part of everything. You are like the guys in the bar and that gal on the corner with the red dress.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-are-a-part-of-everything-you-are-like-the-guys-in-the-bar-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Before you consult your fancy, consult your purse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-you-consult-your-fancy-consult-your-purse/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Either a good or a bad reputation outruns and gets before people wherever they go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/either-a-good-or-a-bad-reputation-outruns-and-gets-before-people/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Gail Anderson-Dargatz has a noticing eye, a voice as unique as the countryside she writes about, and a heart large enough to love her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-hodgins/gail-anderson-dargatz-has-a-noticing-eye-a-voice-as-unique-as-the/) [Jack Hodgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-hodgins/) > [The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-means-by-which-we-live-have-outdistanced-the-ends-for-which-we/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [The number of people that can reason well is much smaller than those that can reason badly. If reasoning were like hauling rocks, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/the-number-of-people-that-can-reason-well-is-much-smaller-than-those/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [It can't be outmatched, It can't be outrun...No](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/it-can-t-be-outmatched-it-can-t-be-outrun-no/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [We can outrun the wind and the storm, but we cannot outrun the demon of hurry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/we-can-outrun-the-wind-and-the-storm-but-we-cannot-outrun-the-demon/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [For more than twenty-five years my mind had been deeply troubled by the fact that these mechanical and scientific achievements ofman had outrun his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-gildersleeve/for-more-than-twenty-five-years-my-mind-had-been-deeply-troubled-by/) [Virginia Gildersleeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-gildersleeve/) > [I surprised myself with my ability to run. It's kind of like tippy toe running. I would not be able to outrun Indominus Rex,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pratt/i-surprised-myself-with-my-ability-to-run-it-s-kind-of-like-tippy-toe/) [Chris Pratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pratt/) > [No one can outrun death. It will catch up to all of us eventually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/no-one-can-outrun-death-it-will-catch-up-to-all-of-us-eventually/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [Among wolves, no matter how sick, no matter how cornered, no matter how alone, afraid or weakened, the wolf will continue.She will lope even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/among-wolves-no-matter-how-sick-no-matter-how-cornered-no-matter-how/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Fancy quotes > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [My mind shrank from the menace sweeping down on us, as children's do from belief in death and misfortune, vainly clinging to the fancy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-pankhurst/my-mind-shrank-from-the-menace-sweeping-down-on-us-as-children-s-do/) [Sylvia Pankhurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-pankhurst/) > ['Sex and The City' was made to correct the myth that if you were single at a certain age, you were a leper. Its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-patrick-king/sex-and-the-city-was-made-to-correct-the-myth-that-if-you-were-single/) [Michael Patrick King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-patrick-king/) > [There is no science without fancy and no art without fact.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/there-is-no-science-without-fancy-and-no-art-without-fact/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“Sometimes instinct isn't fancy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/sometimes-instinct-isn-t-fancy/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [When we idealize the real, we sacrifice to artistic fancy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fuseli/when-we-idealize-the-real-we-sacrifice-to-artistic-fancy/) [Henry Fuseli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fuseli/) > [For now, I'm supposing that all movements are equal, which they're not, except in this respect: that none of them gives a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfrid-sheed/for-now-i-m-supposing-that-all-movements-are-equal-which-they-re-not/) [Wilfrid Sheed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfrid-sheed/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [If I am ever obscure in my expressions, do not fancy that therefore I am deep. If I were really deep, all the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/if-i-am-ever-obscure-in-my-expressions-do-not-fancy-that-therefore-i/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [Poetical taste is the only magician whose wand is not broken. No hand, except its own, can dissolve the fabric of beauty in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/poetical-taste-is-the-only-magician-whose-wand-is-not-broken-no-hand/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [The criterion of true beauty is, that it increases in examination; of false, that it lessens. There is something, therefore, in true beauty that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-grenville/the-criterion-of-true-beauty-is-that-it-increases-in-examination-of/) [George Grenville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-grenville/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [My friend told me he was going to a fancy dress party as an Italian island. I said to him, ‘Don’t be Sicily’.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-vine/my-friend-told-me-he-was-going-to-a-fancy-dress-party-as-an-italian/) [Tim Vine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-vine/) > [Metaphor isn't just a fancy turn of speech. It shapes our thoughts and feelings, reaches out to grasp new experience, and even binds our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-richardson/metaphor-isn-t-just-a-fancy-turn-of-speech-it-shapes-our-thoughts-and/) [James Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-richardson/) > [If you're feeling fancy free, come wander through the world with me, and any place we chance to be, will be a rendezvous. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/if-you-re-feeling-fancy-free-come-wander-through-the-world-with-me/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) [Browse all 1,452 Fancy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do not let fancy outrun your means.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fancy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/benjamin-franklin-65_fancy_do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means-31460_3146030.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Do not let fancy outrun your means.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Do not let fancy outrun your...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/do-not-let-fancy-outrun-your-means/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```