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CryptogramHardFree PDFUpdated for 2026

Ben Franklin Sayings Cryptogram

Decode 5 sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack

Five sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack, each hidden in a letter-substitution code. Benjamin Franklin wrote the almanac under the pen name Richard Saunders and brought out a new edition every year from 1732 to 1758. The wording is exactly as printed in the almanac, minus the punctuation a cipher cannot carry, though Franklin borrowed and sharpened many of these proverbs from older sources. This is the hard level, a good fit for adults, seniors and students in grades 6 to 12 studying the founding era or looking for an America 250 activity.

Free printable PDF with a full answer key, sized for US Letter and free for classroom use. Want your own title or words? Open it in the cryptogram editor with everything already filled in.

CryptogramPreview

Ben Franklin Sayings Cryptogram

Decode 5 sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack

Phrase 1

F
Z
S
D
R
M
W
V
F
N
Z
H
N
F
Z
S
D
R
M
W
S
Y
T
F
E
Z
J
F
T
Z
E
Z
H
A
F
Z
D
M
A
R
C
F
Z
D
M
A
R
Z
H
N
C
Y
T
F

Phrase 2

C
F
D
D
N
W
H
F
Y
T
V
F
M
M
F
S
M
A
Z
H
C
F
D
D
T
Z
Y
N

+ 3 more phrases in the PDF

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What is a Cryptogram?

A cryptogram is a substitution cipher puzzle where each letter has been replaced by a different letter. Your goal is to decode the hidden quote by figuring out which cipher letter maps to which original letter.

How to solve it

Start by looking for single-letter words (likely A or I), then short common words. Use letter frequency — E, T, A, and O appear most often in English. Once you crack a few letters, the rest fall into place.

Who is this for?

Cryptograms work especially well for middle school through adult solvers. They build pattern recognition, logical reasoning, and vocabulary. Seniors find them a satisfying daily brain exercise.

About this puzzle

Free printable Ben Franklin quotes cryptogram: decode 5 genuine sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack. Hard level with answer key. Instant PDF download.

  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Format: US Letter PDF with answer key
  • Free to download, print, and use
  • Commercial use allowed for KDP publishers

Step-by-step: solving the Ben Franklin Sayings Cryptogram

  1. Print the puzzle. Download and print the free cryptogram PDF. The cipher uses one consistent letter substitution throughout.
  2. Find single-letter words. Look for any single-letter words in the cipher — in English these are almost always A or I.
  3. Spot common short words. Short words like THE, AND, IS, OF, and TO appear frequently. Plug them in once their letter pattern matches.
  4. Apply letter frequency. The most common English letters are E, T, A, O, I, N, S, H, R. The most common cipher letters likely map to these.
  5. Verify with the answer key. Once decoded, check your full plaintext against the answer key on the second page.

Frequently asked questions

What are Ben Franklin's most famous sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack?›
Among the best known are "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" (1735), "Well done is better than well said" (1737) and "Lost time is never found again" (1748). All three are in this puzzle, along with "Little strokes fell great oaks" (1750) and "The doors of wisdom are never shut" (1755).
How hard is this cryptogram, and who is it for?›
It is the hard level, meant for adults, seniors and students in grades 6 to 12. Each saying is written in its own letter-substitution code, and the answer key prints on a separate page.
Is there a bigger Ben Franklin puzzle pack?›
Yes. The $2.99 Ben Franklin Sayings Puzzle Pack adds a crossword about Franklin's life, two new cryptograms with three more almanac sayings, a word search and a word scramble.
Is the cipher a simple letter substitution?›
Yes. One letter consistently substitutes for another throughout the whole quote. Once you decode a few letters, the rest typically fall into place.
Are punctuation and spaces preserved?›
Yes. Word boundaries, capitalization, and punctuation are kept intact so you can use word-shape clues while solving.
What age is a cryptogram appropriate for?›
Cryptograms suit middle school through adult. They build pattern recognition, letter-frequency reasoning, and vocabulary at the same time.
Can I customize this puzzle?›
Yes. Open it in the free Cryptogram editor with the words already filled in, then change the title, edit or add words and pick a difficulty. Downloads are free with your email, and Premium removes the PuzzlePage credit.

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