An Unsuspecting Lesson From Benjamin Franklin

As I’m reading Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography (for class, not pleasure) I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve actually been enjoying it. At first I was merely skimming the book, highlighting phrases I knew I would need to write the essay, but then I caught myself slowing down and actually absorbing Franklin’s words. When I came upon this list, I knew I had to share and I knew I could learn a lot from this historical and intriguing man that made his way from a newspaper editor and printer to a Founding Father of the United States.

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

Temperance

Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

Silence

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifiling conversation

Order

Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have it’s time

Resolution

Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve

Frugality

Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing

Industry

Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

Sincerity

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly

Justice

Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty

Moderation

Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve

Cleanliness

Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation

Tranquility

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable

Chastity

Rarely use venery but for health and offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation

Humility

Imitate Jesus or Socrates

Franklin composed these virtues at age 20 (in 1746) after studying different religions and philosophers and being bogged down by all the ways he was supposed to live his life. He took all he had learned and combined them into what he thought was the proper way to live and cultivate his character. He focused on a virtue a week and tried his hardest to work on that virtue, letting all other virtues happen that week by “ordinary chance”, and wrote down every day his transgressions against his weekly virtue. Keeping all of these records in a pocketbook kept on him at all times, he hoped to see on paper how his life was improving. He claimed living this way, consciously by his virtues, he lived a happier and more successful life.