Name ________________________ Date ___________ Period _________
Ben Franklin’s Aphorisms
You will be assigned one aphorism to present or compose a poster for the class. To earn an “A”
or “B” on the assignment, you need to meet the following requirements:
1. Your presentation must be between 90 seconds and two and a half minutes.
2. Your presentation must be memorized. One note card is okay, but you can’t just read your
speech. Eye contact is important.
3. Your presentation must be lucid; that is to say it must be given loudly and slowly enough
to be clearly understood.
4. You must submit your notes and/or memorized text.
The following must go on your poster:
-Put A and B together.
A.
B.
C.
D.
State the aphorism.
Define key terms, break them down and restate them in your own words.
Give an example or two that demonstrates the aphorism.
Explain why you agree or disagree with the aphorism.
Aphorisms List
1.
The cat in gloves catches no mice.
2.
Eat to live, not live to eat.
3.
Necessity never made a good bargain.
4.
It is easy to see, hard to foresee.
5.
He that lieth down with dogs shall rise up with fleas.
6.
The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.
7.
After crosses and losses, men grow wiser and humbler.
8.
He that speaks ill of the mare will buy her.
9.
There are three faithful friends—an old wife, an old dog and ready money.
10. If you would not be forgotten
When you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worthy of reading
Or do things worth writing.
11. Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.
12. When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water.
13. Little strokes fell great oaks.
14. Who has deceived so oft as thyself?
15. A good lawyers, a bad neighbor.
16. A country man between two layers is like a fish between two cats.
17. He that drinks his cider alone; let him catch his horse alone.
18. Those who in quarrels interpose; must often wipe a bloody nose.
19. What you seem to be, be really.
20. Where there’s no law, there’s no bread.
21. He that drinks fast, pays slow.
22. People who are wrapped up in themselves make small packages.
23. He that speaks much is often mistaken.
24. Glass, china and a reputation are easily cracked and never really mended.
25. The sleeping fox catches no poultry. Up! Up!
26. Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever folly.
27. The end of passion is the beginning of repentance.
28. He that would fish must venture the bait.
29. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
30. Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.
31. Write injuries in dust, benefits in marble.
32. A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.
33. If your head is wax, don’t walk in the sun.
34. A good example is the best sermon.
35. Genius without education is like silver in the mine.
36. Haste makes waste.
37. Love your neighbor; yet don’t pull down your hedge.
38. He that lives upon hope will die fasting.
39. Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.
40. Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.
41. Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.
42. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
43. Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
44. God helps them that help themselves.
45. The rotten apple spoils his companions.
46. An open foe may prove a curse; but a pretended friend is worse.
47. Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.
48. A true friend is the best possession.
49. A small leak will sink a great ship.
50. No gains without pains.
51. Tis easier to prevent bad habits than to break them.
52. Well done is better than well said.
53. You can be too cunning for One, but not for all.
54. There are no ugly loves or handsome prisons.