"The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all others, charity."
"Repeal that [welfare] law, and you will soon see a change in their manners. ... Six days shalt thou labor, though one of the old commandments long treated as out of date, will again be looked upon as a respectable precept; industry will increase, and with it plenty among the lower people; their circumstances will mend, and more will be done for their happiness by inuring them to provide for themselves, than could be done by dividing all your estates among them."
38 likes
Source: Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1809). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin ...”, p.235
About the author
Same author
More quotes by Benjamin Franklin
"War is when the government tells you who the bad guy is. Revolution is when you decide that for yourself."
"Women are books, and men the readers be."
"If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking."
"Common sense is something that everyone needs, few have, and none think they lack."
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."