Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

I have long admired Benjamin Franklin and the more I learn about him, the more I appreciate who he was.

You may be familiar with him for his role as one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, or as an author, printer, politician, scientist, inventor, humorist, statesman, or diplomat.

But did you know he created a personal self-development program, known as Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues?

In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin created and committed himself to a program of daily effort and introspection to help him attain his goal of moral perfection.

“I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.”

His plan consisted of living 13 virtues. He carried a small booklet of 13 charts, with the days of the week listed along the top of the page and the 13 virtues listed along the side. Daily, he would mark the chart next to the virtues he had violated, with his goal to minimize the number of marks on the page. Each week he focused on one of the virtues, and would rotate through all the virtues every 13 weeks.

It was basically a 3-month self-improvement program, that he repeated every 3 months.

What he found, over time is that though he never attained moral perfection, the marks on the page diminished and that he had become a “better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”

Benjamin Franklin became a man of great influence! Was it because he attained his lofty goal or rather because he attempted and consistently worked towards his desired goal?

I believe his daily striving, not the actual attainments, is what allowed him to be so influential and accomplished.

All too often I work with individuals who desire to change. They set goals and make a plan, yet sooner or later want to give up, because they haven’t reached their goal and feel they have failed. They fail to recognize that the process and daily commitment is what propels us forward and signals progress.

The process alone is enough to create improvement and lasting change even if the end goal is not yet or ever reached.

What Benjamin Franklin discovered as the marks on the page diminished over time is that those qualities were becoming second nature. They had become a part of him. Though he may not have achieved perfection, he did become a better and happier person in the process. And though he created this program nearly 300 years ago, how relevant his 13 virtues are today!

I hope that you will find renewed confidence in your daily efforts of self-improvement, and know that with your efforts, you are in the company of greatness, Benjamin Franklin himself!

With love,

 

 

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths or habitation.
11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. 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.
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”