Reflection- Benjamin Franklin: Virtues

Benjamin Franklin had his own system of virtues that I believe definitely made him successful in becoming a better person.  Benjamin Franklin's system of virtues consisted of thirteen main virtues with their own description.  The first is temperance, which means "eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation" ("Being Virtuous").  This means that you should not eat because you are bored, or drink excessive amount of alcohol just for fun.  The second virtue is silence: "Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation" ("Being Virtuous").  Another virtue is order, which is when you "let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time" ("Being Virtuous").  The fourth virtue is resolution, or "resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve" ("Being Virtuous").  The next virtue is frugality, which means "make no expense but to do good in others or yourself; i.e, waste nothing" ("Being Virtuous").  The sixth virtue is industry:
"lose no time.  Be always employed in something useful.  Cut off all unnecessary actions."  Another virtue is sincerity, which means "use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly" ("Being Virtuous").  The next virtue is justice, meaning "wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty" ("Being Virtuous").  The next virtue of Benjamin Franklin is moderation: "avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve" ("Being Virtuous").  The tenth virtue is cleanliness, which means "tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation" ("Being Virtuous").  The next virtue is tranquility, meaning "be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable" (Being Virtuous").  Another virtue that Benjamin Franklin followed is chastity, which means "rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anothers peace or reputation" ("Being Virtuous").  The thirteenth and final virtue is humility, which means "imitate Jesus and Socrates" ("Being Virtuous").

I think there are many reasons why these thirteen virtues helped Benjamin Franklin become a better individual, or at least helped him try to be a better individual.  Benjamin Franklin was always aware of what he or someone else was doing.  He seems like a man who was very in touch with his surroundings.  Benjamin Franklin kept a small journal with him at all times, and in the journal he kept track of the virtues he did and did not follow daily.  This helped him physically see written down on paper what he felt like he had to work on to become a better person.  I think that they fact that he always had the journal with him as a reminder made him remember to make the effort to portray all of these virtues.  As time went on, he did not even need the reminder anymore.  Maybe he just got so used to trying to be the best person he could be, it started to come naturally to him, without any extra thought.  I think people would benefit from making special efforts like that. The world would be a better place.


"Being Virtuous: Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues of Life | The Art of Manliness." The Art of Manliness | Men’s Interests and Lifestyle. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.