stamp 202605170932
Benjamin Franklin selected 13 virtues to practice, and ordered them in a way so they build upon each other.
First: temperance (“eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation”). The clear mind given by temperance helps him to be more mindful in his daily conversations. Refraining from empty chit-chat frees up mental space, and so does keeping his environment orderly, and so he can be more focused, more resolute in his actions. And so on.
The 13 virtues in such order are:
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 Uncleanness in Body, Clothes 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.
(Source: ref-franklin-the-autobiography-of-benjamin-franklin)
Related
- He tracked his performance on virtues in his habit tracker: 3e3a-benjamin-franklin-used-something-we-would-call-a-habit-tracker-today
- He also dedicated time during his day to look forward and look back, incorporating his mindfulness about virtues into his daily schedule. 3e3-looking-at-benjamin-franklin-s-schedule-without-his-habit-tracker-is-a-huge-miss
- The way Franklin orders his virtues to build upon each other reminds me of the Simple Path of Mother Theresa.