I've been trying to locate the origin of "God will help those who help themselves." It came up in sunday School today and while we are all familiar with it, no one knows the origin. If you know, I would appreciate your letting me know. It was agreed that it is not in the scriptures.
Answer
I went to Bartlett's Familiar Quotations online and looked up "God helps those who help themselves."
That quote is attributed to Sidney Algernon (1622-1683) in his "Discourses on Government." The similar quote, "God helps them that help themselves," is attributed to Benjamin Franklin in Poor Richard's Almanac of 1757.
Earlier versions of the quote include:
"Help thyself, heaven will help thee." (LaFontaine, Book VI, fable 18)
"Heaven ne'er helps the men who will not act." (Sophocles)
"Help thyself and God will help thee." (George Herbert (1593-1633), Jocula Prudentum)