Who said "Well done is better than well said"?
Quick answer
Benjamin Franklin wrote “Well done is better than well said” in his yearly book of sayings, Poor Richard’s Almanack, in 1737. It means that actions matter more than words or promises.
Where it comes from
From 1732 to 1758, Franklin published Poor Richard’s Almanack under the pen name “Richard Saunders.” Like other almanacs, it had calendars, weather predictions and astronomy, but it became famous for its short, witty proverbs about hard work, thrift and good sense. “Well done is better than well said” appeared in the 1737 edition.
Franklin didn’t invent every saying in the almanac. He often borrowed and sharpened older proverbs, but his versions are the ones people remember.
What it means
Talking about a plan, making promises or giving advice is easy. Doing the work is what counts. The proverb is often used:
- In workplaces, to praise results over presentations
- In sport, where performance speaks louder than predictions
- As a gentle warning to people who promise more than they deliver
Other Franklin proverbs
| Saying | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” | Good habits pay off |
| “A penny saved is a penny earned.” (paraphrase) | Saving is as good as earning |
| “Lost time is never found again.” | Don’t waste time |
| “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” | Prevent problems early (from a 1736 letter on fire safety) |
Who was Benjamin Franklin?
Franklin (1706–1790) was a printer, writer, scientist and inventor, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He helped edit the Declaration of Independence and famously experimented with electricity.
For another proverb about action, see who said “Fortune favors the bold”.
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