The busy Man has few idle Visitors; to the boiling Pot the Flies come not.

None are deceived but they that confide.

Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other.

To err is human, to repent divine, to persist devilish.

Late Children, early Orphans.

Plough deep, while Sluggards sleep;

And you shall have Corn, to sell and to keep.

When Man and Woman die, as Poets sung,

His Heart's the last part moves, her last, the tongue.

He that scatters thorns, let him not go barefoot.

Up, Sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough.

The proof of gold is fire; the proof of woman, gold, the proof of man, a woman.

An Egg today is better than a Hen tomorrow.

The Tongue offends, and the Ears get the Cuffing.

Don't think so much of your own Cunning, as to forget other Men's: A cunning Man is overmatch'd by a cunning Man and a Half.

A good example is the best sermon.

All things are easy to Industry,

All things difficult to Sloth.

The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice.

One mend-fault is worth two find-faults, but one find-fault is better than two make-faults.

He that would have a short Lent, let him borrow Money to be repaid at Easter.

Innocence is its own defense.

'Tis not a Holiday that's not kept holy.

'Tis easier to suppress the first Desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.

I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. In my youth I travelled much, and I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.

Man's tongue is soft, and bone doth lack;

Yet a stroke therewith may break a man's back.

Spare and have is better than spend and crave.

Many would live by their Wits, but break for want of Stock.

He that hath no ill Fortune will be troubled with good.

Tart Words make no Friends: a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a Gallon of Vinegar.

A great Empire, like a great Cake, is most easily diminished at the Edges.

Take this remark from Richard poor and lame,

Whate'er's begun in anger ends in shame.

Every Body cries, a Union is absolutely necessary, but when they come to the Manner and Form of the Union, their weak Noddles are perfectly distracted.

When Death puts out our Flame, the Snuff will tell,

If we were Wax, or Tallow by the smell.

Time eateth all things, could old poets say,

The times are chang'd, our times drink all away.