Benjamin Franklin
William Sullivan’s comment prompted a quick look at his blog, where he cites a recent NYTimes editorial on Ben Franklin and reproduces Franklin’s self-fashioned list of personal 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, clothes, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILITY: 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.
I gotta get more Ben. My reading list is already overwhelming, though. Kathy’s read a number of Lincoln-era biographies lately, and sweetly has been sharing the highlights with me. Maybe I can talk her into doing Ben next!
Adding William to my regular blog list at left.
