Poor Richard Quotations

If you desire many things, many things will seem few.

If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality.

If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself.

Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

When you are an Anvill, hold you still; when you are a hammer, strike your fill.

The horse thinks one thing and he that rides him another

Proclaim not all thou knowest, all thou knowest, all thou hast, nor all thou cans't.

It is better to take many injuries than to give one.

Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.

The Sting of a reproach, is the Truth of it.

Men and Melons are hard to know.

Lying rides upon debt's back.

Do not do that which you would not have known.

Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times.

Tis easy to see, hard to foresee.

Would you live with ease, Do what you ought, and not what you please.

When Wine enters, out goes the Truth.

He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.

He that speaks much, is much mistaken.

When you are good to others, you are best to yourself.

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.

Better slip with foot than tongue.

Liberality is not giving much, but giving wisely.

Observe all men, thyself most.

Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot.

He that would travel much, should eat little.

When Knaves betray each other, one can scarce be blamed or the other pitied.

He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.

Little rogues easily become great ones.

He that best understands the world, least likes it

He that resolves to mend hereafter, resolves not to mend now.

There is none deceived but he that trusts.

As sore places meet most rubs, proud folks meet most affronts.

He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

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

Saying and Doing, have quarrel'd and parted.

Let thy vices die before thee.

Great Modesty often hides great Merit.

The thrifty maxim of the wary Dutch, Is to save all the Money they can touch

The same man cannot be both Friend and Flatterer.

He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish things.

If Pride leads the Van, Beggary brings up the Rear.

Bargaining has neither friends nor relations.

The used key is always bright.

What signifies knowing the Names, if you know not the Natures of things.

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

Pay what you owe and you'll know what's your own.

If your riches are yours, why don't you take them with you to the other world?

All things are cheap to the saving, dear to the wasteful

Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy enemy to gain him.

None are deceived but they that confide.

Pardoning the Bad, is injuring the Good.

Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open.

They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.

He that is rich need not live sparingly, and he that can live sparingly need not be rich.

Thou can'st not joke an enemy into a friend, but thou may'st a friend into an enemy.

What is a butterfly? At best He's but a caterpiller drest. The gaudy Fop's his picture just.

Remember that a good example is the best sermon.