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This [the U.S. Constitution] is likely to be administered for a course of years and then end in despotism... when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

Benjamin Franklin

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Benjamin Franklin
Age: 84 †
Born: 1706
Born: January 17
Died: 1790
Died: April 17
Autobiographer
Chess Player
Designer
Dilettante
Diplomat
Economist
Editor
Freemason
Inventor
Journalist
Librarian
Musician
Physicist
Boston
Massachusetts
Silence Dogood
Ben Franklin
The First American
Franklin
Poor Richard
Needs
Constitution
Years
Shall
People
Courses
Despotic
Course
Administered
Ends
Corrupted
Become
Despotism
Government
Incapable
Need
Likely

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In going on with these Experiments, how many pretty systems do we build, which we soon find ourselves oblig'd to destroy! If there is no other Use discover'd of Electricity, this, however, is something considerable, that it may help to make a vain Man humble.
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God grant, that not only the Love of Liberty, but a thorough Knowledge of the Rights of Man, may pervade all the Nations of the Earth, so that a Philosopher may set his Foot anywhere on its Surface, and say, 'This is my Country.'
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The nearest I can make it out, Love your Enemies means, Hate your Friends
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The securest place is a prison cell, but there is no liberty
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Avarice and Happiness never saw each other, how then should they become acquainted?
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Those things that hurt, instruct.
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Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul then shalt thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown then shall thy soul walk upright, nor stoop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse because the hand which offers it wears a ring set with diamonds.
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It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow.
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Time is money'... Waste it now. Pay for it later!
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On being asked what condition of man he considered the most pitiable: A lonesome man on a rainy day who does not know how to read.
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An assembly of great men is the greatest fool upon earth.
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The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.
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Better slip with foot than tongue.
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Little rogues easily become great ones.
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Mankind are very odd creatures: one half censure what they practice, the other half practice what they censure the rest always say and do as they ought.
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My refusing to eat meat occasioned inconveniency, and I have been frequently chided for my singularity. But my light repast allows for greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension.
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Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste.
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