Proverbs From Poor Richard's Almanac ~ All About America

Anyone who really knows me, understands that I am a passionate patriot. I love America immensely. It offers freedom, hope and opportunity like no other country in the world. As such, I will be posting All About America every Wednesday, because I am proud to be an American! The content will vary and may include photos, facts, commentary, quotes, excerpts of speeches, etc. I will use different sources and make every attempt to site the source. Sometimes I may offer commentary, other times, if I think the content speaks for itself, I may not. I hope you enjoy All About America as much as I do, and that you’ll come back and visit often. And may God Bless America!


This has been taken from my second favorite book of all time, The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb. It is filled with tons of amazing information and history, and anyone who loves history or consider themselves to be patriotic, will love this book. I did a full review of this book and if you would like to see it, simply click here.

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Many American Colonists started each year by opening the latest edition of their favorite almanac. The most famous was Poor Richard’s Almanack, published by Benjamin Franklin from 1733 – 1758, while he was a printer in Philadelphia. Readers appreciated the almanac’s weather predictions, astronomical data, and agricultural information. But they especially loved its humor, verses and practical advice, all dispensed by the pen of “Poor” Richard Saunders, a fictional astrologer whom Franklin invented to be the editor of his publication.


Some of Poor Richard’s proverbs are still quoted today. Many of the aphorisms came from earlier writers, ranging from Greek to English, but were often “Americanized” for Franklin’s readers.


Here are some proverbs from Poor Richard:

~ A penny saved is a penny earned.

~ Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

~ With the old Almanack and the old year, leave thy old vices tho’ever so dear.

~ He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night.

~ Well done is better than well said.

~ People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.

~ Little strokes fall great oaks.

~ If a man could have his wishes, he would double his troubles.

~ One today is worth two tomorrows.

~ He that by the plow would thrive, himself must either hold or drive.

~ Laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him.

~ Better slip with the foot than with the tongue.

~ Look before, or you’ll find yourself behind.

~ Humility makes great men twice honorable.

~ Keep thy shop and thy shop shall keep thee.

~ A Lie stands on one leg, Truth on two.

~ Deny self for self’s sake.

~ To be humble to Superiors is Duty, to Equals is Courtesy, to Inferiors is Nobleness.

~ An old young man will be a young old man.

~ Fish and visitors stink in three days.

~ Diligence is the Mother of good luck.

~ God helps them that help themselves.

~ He that speaks much, is much mistaken.

~ Creditors have better memories than debtors.

~ He that would live in peace and at ease, must not speak all he knows, nor judge all he sees.

~ Where there’s marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

~ Don’t value a man for the Quality he is of, but for the Qualities he possesses.

~ He that cannot obey, cannot command.

~ After crosses and losses men grow humbler & wiser.

~ As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.