The 13 Virtues of Life:
Benjamin Franklin’s Guide to Building Character.
Let's go back to 1726, when Ben was 20.
He was working on a set of rules that would allow him to be a better person.
The following are his virtues
Which are as relevant today as they were in the 1700’s.
Benjamin Franklin’s Guide to Building Character.
Let's go back to 1726, when Ben was 20.
He was working on a set of rules that would allow him to be a better person.
The following are his virtues
Which are as relevant today as they were in the 1700’s.
1. Temperance
"Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
An individual should not overindulge in food or drink.
Franklin believed that temperance allows the mind and body to work optimally, making the other virtues possible.
"Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
An individual should not overindulge in food or drink.
Franklin believed that temperance allows the mind and body to work optimally, making the other virtues possible.
2. Silence
"Speak not what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
Franklin learnt the importance of listening at meetings.
He could talk for hours, but it offered little in the way of learning. He realized he must instead listen, which meant silence.
"Speak not what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
Franklin learnt the importance of listening at meetings.
He could talk for hours, but it offered little in the way of learning. He realized he must instead listen, which meant silence.
3. Order
"Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
Franklin was ambitious and had many interests.
He believed that order would allow him to pursue all things, as long as they were done efficiently.
"Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
Franklin was ambitious and had many interests.
He believed that order would allow him to pursue all things, as long as they were done efficiently.
4. Resolution
"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
Simply put, you must do what you set out to.
This was as much relevant to his mastery of the virtues as the rest of his life.
He believed that resolve and discipline made the man.
"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
Simply put, you must do what you set out to.
This was as much relevant to his mastery of the virtues as the rest of his life.
He believed that resolve and discipline made the man.
5. Frugality
"Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing."
Spend less than you earn.
Sounds simple, yet, typically we do the exact opposite.
Living frugally not only keeps you humble, but it teaches you the value of money.
"Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing."
Spend less than you earn.
Sounds simple, yet, typically we do the exact opposite.
Living frugally not only keeps you humble, but it teaches you the value of money.
6. Industry
"Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
Time is money. Like frugality, Franklin believed that being ever useful was the key to success.
Being deliberate in how you spend your time can define the outlook of your life.
"Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
Time is money. Like frugality, Franklin believed that being ever useful was the key to success.
Being deliberate in how you spend your time can define the outlook of your life.
7. Sincerity
"Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
Don’t gossip, spread rumors, or be deceitful, this was born from his role as a printer.
Think before you speak and speak the truth.
"Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
Don’t gossip, spread rumors, or be deceitful, this was born from his role as a printer.
Think before you speak and speak the truth.
8. Justice
"Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
Live life by doing what is right.
While we often focus too much on ourselves, it is important to also see how your actions impact others.
Try not to do harm to anyone in life.
"Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
Live life by doing what is right.
While we often focus too much on ourselves, it is important to also see how your actions impact others.
Try not to do harm to anyone in life.
9. Moderation
"Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
Everything should be balanced and engaged in moderately. Extremes are rarely the answer.
Culture may guide us the opposite. Seek moderation in all parts of life, keep balance.
"Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
Everything should be balanced and engaged in moderately. Extremes are rarely the answer.
Culture may guide us the opposite. Seek moderation in all parts of life, keep balance.
10. Cleanliness
"Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation,
a person should be well kept."
Having cleanliness of body and home is a representation of your attention to detail and discipline.
Take the time to take care of yourself and your environment.
"Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation,
a person should be well kept."
Having cleanliness of body and home is a representation of your attention to detail and discipline.
Take the time to take care of yourself and your environment.
11. Tranquility
"Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
Don’t get upset about the little things, as it does more harm than good.
Learn to be tranquil and at peace with issues that are clearly out of your control.
Don’t let them control you.
"Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
Don’t get upset about the little things, as it does more harm than good.
Learn to be tranquil and at peace with issues that are clearly out of your control.
Don’t let them control you.
12. Chastity
"Rarely use venery but for health or offspring."
Never to the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
Times have certainly changed, yet the premise is still relevant, be aware of your actions when it comes to sex and the perception that it carries.
"Rarely use venery but for health or offspring."
Never to the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
Times have certainly changed, yet the premise is still relevant, be aware of your actions when it comes to sex and the perception that it carries.
13. Humility
"Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
We need to keep our pride in check and not be over-confident in ourselves or our actions.
Practice humility and you will be well-liked, but also well-equipped to face any challenges.
"Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
We need to keep our pride in check and not be over-confident in ourselves or our actions.
Practice humility and you will be well-liked, but also well-equipped to face any challenges.
Humility was a late addition to the list of virtues.
A friend pointed out Franklin’s weakness when it came to pride.
In truth, Franklin struggled with humility throughout his life, but was always mindful of it.
A friend pointed out Franklin’s weakness when it came to pride.
In truth, Franklin struggled with humility throughout his life, but was always mindful of it.
He realized that taking on all 13 of these virtues at once was a recipe for disaster.
He wouldn’t make any progress and fail repeatedly.
Instead, he devised a simple system that would allow him to focus on a single virtue every week over 13 weeks.
He wouldn’t make any progress and fail repeatedly.
Instead, he devised a simple system that would allow him to focus on a single virtue every week over 13 weeks.
After the 13 weeks finished, he would begin again, completing the routine 4 times every year.
The idea was that the work of previous weeks would trickle forward as he went through the cycle.
He tracked progress in a notebook, he marked his progress every day of every week.
The idea was that the work of previous weeks would trickle forward as he went through the cycle.
He tracked progress in a notebook, he marked his progress every day of every week.
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."
"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
Thanks for indulging in the wisdoms of one of my personal heroes.
Sensei.
"Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."
"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."
Thanks for indulging in the wisdoms of one of my personal heroes.
Sensei.
If this has inspired you to action,
Feel free to check out the Benjamin Franklin Challenge!
How To Improve Your Life In Four Weeks.
ocpd.org/ocpd-my-life-i…
Feel free to check out the Benjamin Franklin Challenge!
How To Improve Your Life In Four Weeks.
ocpd.org/ocpd-my-life-i…
2. Silence
"Speak not BUT what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
Correction.
"Speak not BUT what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
Correction.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
