“the eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. if all but myself were blind, I should want neither fine clothes, fine houses, nor fine furniture. ”

“In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.”

“Were I a Roman Catholic, perhaps I should on this occasion vow to build a chapel to some saint, but as I am not, if I were to vow at all, it should be to build a light-house.[Letter to his wife, 17 July 1757, after narrowly avoiding a shipwreck; often misquoted as "Lighthouses are more helpful than churches."]”

“A truly great man will neither trample on a worm nor sneak to an emperor”

“All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse.”

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”