The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin, one of our founding fathers, was an amazing man.  His
influence on the early history of the United States was so great that he
was known as “the only President of the United States who was never
President of the United States.”

He played many roles in his life, including politician, scientist,
inventor, diplomat, and statesman.  He’s well-known for his many
inventions, including bifocals, the lightning rod, the odometer, and the
Franklin stove, but one of the greatest legacies he left behind was his
Thirteen Virtues.

Franklin developed his thirteen virtues to help cultivate his character.
He developed them at the age of 20.  In his famous autobiography, he
devoted more pages to these virtues than to any other single point.  He
believed that the attempt at living up to these virtues made him a better
man and greatly contributed to his success and happiness.  His wish was
“that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.”
Here’s your chance.

The Thirteen Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

  TEMPERANCE:  Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
  SILENCE:  Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid
  trifling conversation.
  ORDER:  Let all your things have their places; let each part of your
  business have its 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 employ’d 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, cloaths, or habitation.
  TRANQUILLITY:  Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or
  unavoidable.
  CHASTITY:  Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to
  dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or
  reputation.
  HUMILITY:  Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Franklin didn’t try to work on all thirteen virtues at once. He worked on
one and only one each week “leaving all others to their ordinary chance”.

Posted via email from The Daily Pearl | Comment »