--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The borrower is slave to the lender and…" description: "\"The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the creditor.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png" --- # The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the… ![“The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the creditor.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png) > “The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the creditor.” [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. Power dynamics bind borrower and lender, creating dependency and loss of freedom. **In simple terms:** Borrower loses freedom to lender. Key Takeaway Beware debt, seek financial independence. Themes finance power dependency freedom Mood cautious reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal budgeting - business loans - student loans - mortgages - credit card use Key Concepts economic power social hierarchy contractual obligation Questions to Reflect On - How does debt affect your personal autonomy? - What steps can reduce financial dependency? A Different Perspective Even with debt, one can negotiate terms or find alternatives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Borrower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrower/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Creditors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creditors/) [Debtors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debtors/) [Slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slave/) ## Related quotes > [“The borrower is slave to the lender.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Proverbs 22:7: “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/proverbs-22-7-the-rich-rule-over-the-poor-and-the-borrower-is-slave/) [Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/) > [Debt is a mistake between lender and borrower, and both should suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/debt-is-a-mistake-between-lender-and-borrower-and-both-should-suffer/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Neither a borrower nor a lender be. For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be-for-loan-oft-loses-both-itself-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Neither a borrower nor a lender be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/of-all-created-comforts-god-is-the-lender-you-are-the-borrower-not/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Debt is always repaid, either by the borrower or by the lender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-grant/debt-is-always-repaid-either-by-the-borrower-or-by-the-lender/) [James Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-grant/) > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [The book borrower...proves himself to be an inveterate collector of books not so much by the fervor with which he guards his borrowed treasures...as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-benjamin/the-book-borrower-proves-himself-to-be-an-inveterate-collector-of/) [Walter Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-benjamin/) > [Control your generosity when dealing with a chronic borrower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/control-your-generosity-when-dealing-with-a-chronic-borrower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be-for-loan-oft-loses-both-itself-and-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The borrower runs in his own debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-borrower-runs-in-his-own-debt/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The rich is the one that rules over those of little means, and the borrower is servant to the man doing the lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-rich-is-the-one-that-rules-over-those-of-little-means-and-the/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [The shoulders of a borrower are always a little straighter than those of a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-shoulders-of-a-borrower-are-always-a-little-straighter-than-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A money-lender--he serves you in the present tense; he lends you in the conditional mood; keeps you in the conjunctive; and ruins you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/a-money-lender-he-serves-you-in-the-present-tense-he-lends-you-in-the/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) ## 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 Borrower quotes > [I'm no innovator. If anything I'm a stealer, or borrower. I've stolen or borrowed from more people than you can shake a stick at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/i-m-no-innovator-if-anything-i-m-a-stealer-or-borrower-i-ve-stolen-or/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [Control your generosity when dealing with a chronic borrower.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/control-your-generosity-when-dealing-with-a-chronic-borrower/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We have allowed Satan to flip the coin over on the other side and put the Body of Christ in debt to the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-copeland/we-have-allowed-satan-to-flip-the-coin-over-on-the-other-side-and-put/) [Kenneth Copeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-copeland/) > [The rich is the one that rules over those of little means, and the borrower is servant to the man doing the lending.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon/the-rich-is-the-one-that-rules-over-those-of-little-means-and-the/) [Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon/) > [A borrower may not lend the thing he borrowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-borrower-may-not-lend-the-thing-he-borrowed/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Neither a borrower nor a lender be. For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be-for-loan-oft-loses-both-itself-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Any informed borrower is simply less vulnerable to fraud and abuse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/any-informed-borrower-is-simply-less-vulnerable-to-fraud-and-abuse/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [The shoulders of a borrower are always a little straighter than those of a beggar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-shoulders-of-a-borrower-are-always-a-little-straighter-than-those/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A borrower who doesn't returns is a beggar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-borrower-who-doesn-t-returns-is-a-beggar/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The borrower is slave to the lender.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you lend, have the borrower sign a paper before witnesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-lend-have-the-borrower-sign-a-paper-before-witnesses/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The borrower runs in his own debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-borrower-runs-in-his-own-debt/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Neither a borrower nor a lender be, for loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/neither-a-borrower-nor-a-lender-be-for-loan-oft-loses-both-itself-and-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/of-all-created-comforts-god-is-the-lender-you-are-the-borrower-not/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“The most dangerous part of lending books lies in the returning. At such times, friendships hang by a thread. I look for agony, ecstasy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-broyard/the-most-dangerous-part-of-lending-books-lies-in-the-returning-at/) [Anatole Broyard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-broyard/) [Browse all 23 Borrower quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrower/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the creditor.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and-the-debtor-to-the-creditor/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Borrower" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and-the-debtor-to-the-creditor/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f2/benjamin-franklin-65_borrower_the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and_2004253.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The borrower is slave to the lender and the debtor to the creditor.” — 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": "The borrower is slave to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and-the-debtor-to-the-creditor/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-borrower-is-slave-to-the-lender-and-the-debtor-to-the-creditor/#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 } } ] } ```