Rediscovering Franklin's Twelve Virtues
Today an Indian friend said to me: Joyce, I want to pay you a compliment. I always see you working, you're always so full of energy, so full of passion.
So I shared the "13 virtues" Franklin set for himself as a young man — one of which is "always be employed in something useful."
I think it's under the influence of principles like these that many of my current habits took shape. Franklin actually had 13, but there's one I don't fully agree with, so I dropped it. The rest I sincerely hope to practise for the rest of my life.
My Indian classmate's reminder made me think again about how important these 12 virtues are. A reminder to myself — to take these important principles up again.
I'm writing them out to give myself a push.
Franklin's 12 Virtues
- Temperance.
Don't eat until you're stuffed.
Don't drink until you're tipsy.
- Silence.
Don't say things that harm others or yourself. Avoid idle gossip.
- Order.
Put everything back in its place; do each task at its proper time.
- Resolution.
Resolve to do what you ought to do, and once you do it, see it through to the end.
- Frugality.
Don't spend idle money that does no good to yourself or others; eliminate waste.
- Industry.
Treasure your time. Always keep your hands busy with something useful. Cut out everything pointless.
- Sincerity.
Don't harm others; don't deceive.
Think openly and fairly; speak truthfully.
- Justice.
Never benefit yourself at others' expense; never go near anything that offends heaven and reason; never let go of the duties you owe to the public good.
- Moderation.
Avoid extremes. Let forbearance dissolve grudges.
- Cleanliness.
Allow no uncleanliness in body, clothing or home.
- Tranquillity.
Don't let small things, everyday things or unavoidable things throw you off balance.
- Humility.
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Benjamin Franklin’s 12 Virtues
- 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 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.
- Tranquillity
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Humility
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
These were Franklin's thoughts when he was very young — I believe this is the magic of compounding. From his autobiography:
He also wrote down how he went about building these virtues (again from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin):
Here is what Franklin's little notebook looked like:
Sometimes he also used a poem by Thomson as a short prayer:
Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!
O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!
Save me from every low pursuit; and fill my soul
With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;
Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!
The precept of Order requiring that every part of my business should have its allotted time,