If you’ve been following the blog for awhile, you’ll know that we’re big fans of Benjamin Franklin. He was America’s first self-made man and set the standard for generations to come on how to live a full and prosperous life. Franklin shared many of his “secrets” to success as short maxims under the pen name “Poor Richard” in his yearly almanac of the same name. The adages focused mainly on the virtues of industry and frugality. In 1758, Franklin reflected on all the maxims he wrote during the first 25 years of publication of Poor Richard’s Almanac and wrote The Way to Wealth. In this essay, Franklin took on the role of “Father Abraham” and dispensed knowledge to his readers by quoting heavily from that wise old sage, “Poor Richard.”

Franklin’s adages in The Way to Wealth teach us that success is just the consistent application of hard work and thrift. Despite what late night infomercials claim, the principles to success haven’t changed much in 200 years. Below, I’ve collected all the maxims from The Way to Wealth in one list. Read through them, pick out a few favorites, and memorize them. They’re perfect for keeping you focused on becoming the most successful man you can be. Enjoy!

God helps them that help themselves Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears, while the used key is always bright Dost thou love life, then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of The sleeping fox catches no poultry There will be sleeping enough in the grave Wasting time must be the greatest prodigality Lost time is never found again Time-enough, always proves little enough Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy He that riseth late, must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night Laziness travels so slowly, that poverty soon overtakes him Drive thy business, let not that drive thee Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Industry need not wish He that lives upon hope will die fasting There are no gains, without pains He that hath a trade hath an estate He that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor At the working man’s house hunger looks in, but dares not enter For industry pays debts, while despair encreaseth them Diligence is the mother of good luck Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep One today is worth two tomorrows Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today Be ashamed to catch yourself idle Let not the sun look down and say, inglorious here he lies The cat in gloves catches no mice Constant dropping wears away stones Diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable Little strokes fell great oaks Employ thy time well if thou meanest to gain leisure Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease Many without labor would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock Industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect: fly pleasures, and they’ll follow you Keep the shop, and thy shop will keep thee If you would have your business done, go; if not, send The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open In the affairs of this world men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it Learning is to the studious, and riches to the careful He that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive. If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself A little neglect may breed great mischief For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost, and for want of a horse the rider was lost A man may, if he knows not how to save as he gets,keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die not worth a groat at last If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting What maintains one vice, would bring up two children Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship Who dainties love, shall beggars prove Fools make Feasts, and wise men eat them Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy necessaries At a great pennyworth pause a while: he means, that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not real Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths ‘Tis foolish to lay our money in a purchase of repentance Wise men learn by others’ harms, fools scarcely by their own Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets put out the kitchen fire A ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees Always taking out of the meal-tub, and never putting in, soon comes to the bottom When the well’s dry, they know the worth of water If you would know the value of money, go and try to borrow some He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy ‘Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow Pride that dines on vanity sups on contempt Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infam The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities! When you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty Lying rides upon debt’s back ‘Tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright Creditors have better memories than debtors The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor Disdain the chain, preserve your freedom; and maintain your independency: be industrious and free; be frugal and free. Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue: ’tis hard for an empty bag to stand upright Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter The borrower is a slave to the lender, and the debtor to the creditor For age and want, save while you may; No morning sun lasts a whole day Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever while you live, expense is constant and certain Tis easier to build two chimneys than to keep one in fuel Rather go to bed supperless than rise in debt. Get what you can, and what you get hold; ’Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold

Which of Franklin’s maxims really strike a cord with you? Let us know in the comments!