Temperance 2. Benjamin Franklin sat down and made a list. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” “Silence. My 13 Virtue notebooks contain lists of them as defined elsewhere, including the Puritan Cardinal Virtues, Socratic virtues, Gandhian ones, Islamic, Buddhist, journalistic, Girl Scouts and bushido (the seven virtues of the samurai warrior), to name a few. The list consisted of twelve characteristics, values and virtues to which he aspired. Being fair is a … I took my own long, honest look in the mirror and chose virtues that better countered my personal shortcomings. ... Go to the visitors' center. One man took up Aristotle’s challenge to live the virtuous or manly life with particular fervor: Benjamin Franklin. The weekly tasks were often fun. According to Franklin his initial list was of 12 virtues, but then a Quaker friend pointed out that he might want to consider adding ‘humility.' When most people today hear the word “virtue,” they usually don’t think “manliness.” Having virtue or being virtuous is looked at as being sissy or effeminate. However, virtue is far from being sissy or effeminate. Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg has famously given himself. The charts consisted of a column for each day of the week and 13 rows marked with the first letter of his 13 virtues. When Aristotle encouraged men in the ancient world to live “the virtuous life,” it was really a call to man up. The key to Franklin’s success was his drive to constantly improve himself and accomplish his ambitions. In fact, we sometimes use the word in today’s vernacular to describe a woman’ssexual conduct. In addition, he wrote down a few words about each of the virtues in order to clarify the meaning he gave to each one.Here’s a list of the 13 virtues which Franklin committed himself to:1. Franklin created his own set of cardinal virtues, 13 of them. When we get done with Franklin’s virtues, we’ll add some more. acquire other virtues. In his autobiography, Franklin recommends that all his readers take the 13 Virtues challenge if they seek moral perfection. answer choices . Here it is, as he presents it in the autobiography. Thus, after 13 weeks he had moved through all 13 virtues and would then start the process over again. I volunteered for a charity, stopped procrastinating over a project, meditated, wrote poetry, wrote letters to friends, read interesting books, tried new ways to save money and started new workout routines. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Thirteen wasn't a nod to the original colonies, nor was it random. He defines each virtue, explains how they build upon one another and outlines how to chart one's progress. TEMPERANCE Eat not to Dullness Drink not to Elevation; SILENCE We live in an … He called his list "Virtues". He ate and drank too much. I even asked my friends about my faults, because we're easily blind to them. No, the real reason is that I decided to move on to other self-improvement experiments, and I did this one long enough to prove to myself its effectiveness. What was Franklin's first meal in … Franklin would take a single virtue at a time, work on it for a week and then move on to the next. His life spanned the 18th century, and he managed to see and to participate firsthand in much that it had to offer. And so on. In his autobiography, Franklin recommends that all his readers take the 13 Virtues challenge if they seek moral perfection. He realized that taking on all 13 of these virtues at once was a recipe for disaster. I first wrote down the definitions for my own 13 virtues, kept a list of ideas for weekly goals for each virtue and then made entries stating my goal and my self-assessment at the end. Sometimes, I just learned something -- or something about myself -- and other times, 13 Virtues became a reason to do something enjoyable or interesting, especially in categories such as Creativity or Erudition. It’s quite the list of virtues and certainly nothing easy to live up to. In order to help you live the virtuous life, we’re going to highlight one of Ben’s virtues that you can focus on throughout the week. Franklin would especially focus on one virtue each week by placing that virtue at the top that week’s chart and including a “short precept” to explain its meaning. Start a new (good) habit, kill an old (bad) one, The 'know thyself' weight loss resolution, drawn the spines of every book I've read for more than 20 years, Ben Franklin considered various virtues that, if mastered, would lead him to perfection, After 10 years of following Franklin's example, I am more industrious, patient, mindful and healthy. Don't miss another Wisdom Project column by subscribing here. This one's pretty simple. Eat until you're not … Q. SURVEY . 13. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”The first virtue selected by Franklin was not to overindulge in food or drink. 12. Erudition sent me looking up every word I came across and didn't know. He was also hundreds of years ahead of the curve for the fun and addictive trend of gamification. I came across 13 Virtues in college. Use no hurtful deceit. The goal was to minimize the number of marks, thus indicating a “clean” life free of vice. (CNN)Of the many inventions (bifocals, odometer), accomplishments (US postal system, Constitution) and experiments (that kite in a lightning storm) credited to Benjamin Franklin, none of his contributions to humanity, in my opinion, outshines his brilliantly simple method for self-improvement. Until then, why not get started on living the virtuous life by downloading this nifty replica of Franklin’s virtue chart from DIY Planner? Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; Avoid trifling Conversation. And I tracked my progress in a notebook. Nevertheless, like the rest of us, Franklin still found it a huge challenge to practice his virtues. This is where Franklin’s method differed. My final list, 10 years in, was Morality, Industry, Friendliness, Erudition, Frugality, Flexibility, Civic Duty, Introspection, Patience, Spirituality, Creativity, Mindfulness and Healthfulness. Although I've taken a break from 13 Virtues, there are some experiments and projects I still do today that were forged in its fire. Temperance: Eat not to dullness. February 24, 2008 Having studied the ancient philosophers and their ideas of the virtues required to be an ideal man, Benjamin Franklin created his own list of thirteen virtues. Get an answer for 'In the "Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin", what did Franklin hope to achieve through his list of thirteen virtues?' Other long-lasting effects are less tangible but no less real. He accounted for his progress on a chart and shared his scheme with others. Franklin's Thirteen Virtues . To improve himself, Franklin created a list of 13 virtues to live by. Franklin took a different approach to his journaling. But as time went by, he saw the marks diminish. In 1726, at the age of 20, Ben Franklin set his loftiest goal: the attainment of moral perfection. Tags: Question 2 . Trying to fix everything that's wrong with you all at once is overwhelming, he decided. Justice 9. Franklin writes th… He wouldn’t make any progress and fail repeatedly. Or you can buy our Franklin’s Virtue Journal in the AoM Store. I started. As the youngest son of the youngest son for five generations back, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was by custom and tradition destined to be a nobody. He fell short of his ideal in more than a dozen areas of his life, he concluded. Q. Let’s say that he did like to flirt but claiming he was a womanizer is probably exaggerated. Explanations > Values > Franklin's Thirteen Virtues . For me, these were more measurable and helped me take a step closer to that virtue. Read more about Franklin. … Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. The Art of Manliness participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means we get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links. Having added humility to his list, Franklin recognized that it was likely a virtue ever to elude him: In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. I couldn't agree more. I can always pick it back up again, as I did before writing this column to see whether it held up. In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues. He defines each virtue, explains how … How many rules or virtues did Franklin list in his Autobiography? • Asked by benz s #709383 on 10/30/2017 12:06 AM Last updated by Victoria S #863430 on 1/17/2019 5:06 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. 4. When in his late 20s, Benjamin Franklin listed thirteen virtues that he felt were an important guide for living. The virtuous path needs to be broken down to give each area some concentrated time of intention and effort. When Franklin first started out on his program he found himself putting marks in the book more than he wanted to. After all that time thinking about these virtues and trying to embody then, the net effect is that I am, for example, more industrious, patient, mindful and healthy than before I started. We think old Ben Franklin can show us a thing or two on how best to live a virtuous (or manly) life. Answers: 1. Secondly, I didn't simply track how well I thought I exemplified a given virtue, as Franklin did. Franklin created his own set of cardinal virtues, 13 of them. The 13 virtues were: “TEMPERANCE. Sincerity 8. Here’s What Happened When I Wore a Tie to Work Every Day for a Year, Your First Style Steps: Beyond Jeans, T-Shirts, and Tennis Shoes, How To Shave Like Your Grandpa Using a Safety Razor, How to Trim Your Mustache: An Illustrated Guide, The Best Damn Guide to Men’s T-Shirts on the Internet, 10 Things Your Father Should Have Taught You About Style, Podcast #449: Faster and Cheaper Alternatives to College, Saving for Your Kids’ College Education: A Primer on the 529, How to Write the Perfect College Application Essay, How to Pursue a New Career (While Still Getting the Bills Paid), So You (Or Your Wife) Wants to Join a Multi-Level Marketing Company, Podcast #175: How to Improve Your Work and Life With Systems, 10 Tips for Successfully Working from Home, #393: The Importance of Building Your Social Capital, Podcast #659: Do You Want to Be Rich or Wealthy? First, he defines what morality means to him – specifically a list of 13 virtues (listed to the right) and then he goes on to create a little book, a virtues journal, in which he tracks his progress. Two were lifted from Franklin's list. Silence 3. "The essence of the dream is that any man can earn prosperity, economic security, and community respect through hard work and honest dealings with others. Modern social science has since proved that tracking and accountability are two key components of successful habit formation. This essay is part of a column called The Wisdom Project by David Allan, editorial director of CNN Health and Wellness. Tags: Question 22 . 1. Every 13 weeks, the cycle repeats itself. acquires certain virtues, he will at the same time. Ben Franklin's birth. Franklin explained how Humility was added to his list after a friend told him he needed to work on it. His questionable worldview put aside, Franklin's list impresses on a purely literary level. These virtues may be worthwhile to consider following in your own life. Last updated by Victoria S #863430 on 1/17/2019 5:06 PM The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin When Benjamin Franklin was examined before the council, he was dismissed. Justice — Wrong None By Doing Injuries, Or Omitting The Benefits That Are Your Duty. The notion that there are guideposts pointing us in the direction of our better selves is as old as religion, and yet it doesn't need religion to perpetuate them. Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it. He placed a dot next to each virtue each had violated. Although Franklin tried to follow these guides in his life, he often went astray. 3. SURVEY . We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Franklin evaluated himself at the end of each day. For Franklin obviously believed that even one's virtues should be cultivated within moderate bounds, in order to foster happiness, and never as ends in themselves. Self-confidence is a virtue but egotism a vice. As excited as I was to try it out, I hacked the experiment slightly in a way that I hope Franklin would have approved. He based his goals and daily actions around these 13 virtues and he held himself accountable to them by tracking his progress. Updated 1003 GMT (1803 HKT) March 1, 2018. In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues. Franklin's list of virtues looked like this. In other words, he wrestled with the very same human urges, flaws and proclivities that now fuel our New Year's resolutions and the ever-booming market of self-help books. He spent more money than he should. I kept this up over five marble notebooks for a decade. What they are, and how did human progress reach the notion of personal ideals? I also reassessed my list every year or two, swapping out virtues over time. 15. Self-improvement experiments can be gratifying even while they're self-improving. And we must not forget that Franklin’s basic idea of the 13 virtues was becoming a better person, and not a saint. He didn't finish all his goals. Even so, Franklin worked at these virtues throughout his life, but how he did so is just as interesting. how did Franklin go about achieving his virtues, and how does that work for him. While Franklin never accomplished his goal of moral perfection, and had some notable flaws (womanizing and his love of beer probably gave him problems with chastity and temperance), he felt he benefited from the attempt at it. Or Do Cardio Before Weights? Carry it around just as Franklin did, as a constant reminder at your quest to live a virtuous life. Industry 7. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Franklin's works written to instruct or improve the public — of which the Autobiography is best-known — all rest on assumptions about the possibilities open to the individual, which have come to be called "the American dream. Franklin 's List of Virtues 1. Should You Lift Weights Before Doing Cardio? Don't miss another Wisdom Project column; subscribe here. "A bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection" is how America's least controversial and most industrious statesman described his method of personal betterment in his autobiography. I'll call his big life hack "13 Virtues," and for about 10 years, I performed Franklin's experiment on myself. Benjamin Franklin is an American legend. 2. The economic virtues are so prominent in Franklin’s writing because of their importance to his audience, but they are the foundation or beginning, not the whole, of his moral teaching. 10. The series is on applying to one's life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. The 13 virtues were: In order to keep track of his adherence to these virtues, Franklin carried around a small book of 13 charts. Franklin developed his list of 13 virtues based on the moral virtues he had come across in his readings. "On the whole, tho' I never arrived at the Perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell short of it," he wrote. “TEMPERANCE. He devised it so anyone could become their best possible self. Resolution 5. move on to the next virtue. Philosophically, I found it interesting to consider how fine a line there could be between a virtue and a vice. Scotty Hendricks 21 July, 2016 See if you can go a whole day without having to give yourself a mark for not living the virtues. He chose 13 because that number fits neatly into a calendar. Out of that thinking, Franklin developed his thirteen virtues, a list of character traits to live by. Oh, and in his spare time he helped found a country, and then serve as its diplomat. The book had seven columns, one for each day of the week, and 13 rows, one for each virtue. It was so successful that he stuck to it for many years. First, I didn't adopt his list of virtues wholesale, although it was a good starting place. In order to have honor, a Roman man had to live each of the four virtues. (And Why the Difference Matters), 8 Personal Finance Lessons from Benjamin Franklin, Podcast #605: The Money Moves You Should Make Right Now, So You Want My Trade: Automotive Mechanic/Technician, The Complete Library of Rocky Training Exercises. 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. I concluded that it's as solid now as when I first took the plunge back in college. In this post we discuss the 13 virtues Ben Franklin created when he set out to achieve the ambitious and unrealistic goal of moral perfection. There are some virtues, it seems, where too much of a good thing falls back into the category of shortcoming, such as being "too nice" or "too busy.". The road to perfection can take many routes and is worth the journey, even if you never arrive at the destination. In his journal he would place a small black dot next to the virtue that he did not do well with that day. They included justice, prudence, courage, and temperance. The experiment also sparked a new interest in the subject of virtues. Drink not to elevation. He single handily invented the idea of the “self-made man.” Despite being born into a poor family and only receiving two years of formal schooling, Franklin became a successful printer, scientist, musician, and author. Order 4. While most of us are taught to write down and visualize our goals, we are rarely taught to measure them against any set of moral codes. And although I have fallen short of that lofty goal many times, the enjoyable years I have spent working on 13 Virtues has led to demonstrative progress toward a more virtuous life. Another week, I'd attempt going vegan for Morality. Benjamin Franklin formulated a set of virtues he sought to attain in his own life, without the aid of any church or minister. 45 seconds . Once he has mastered one, he will then. how did Franklin go about achieving his virtues, and how does that work for him. However, there’s little if any evidence (although he did have an illegitimate child before his wedding) that prove those claims. Because 13 weeks is a predictable schedule, I could plan ahead and incorporate vacations and holidays. After 10 years, I stopped tracking 13 Virtues. Benjamin Franklin. Try to be v… Podcast #667: Bringing More Soul (and Poetry) Into Your Work. how did Franklin go about achieving his virtues, and how does that work for him. he was able to rise out of poverty to become a wealthy, famous and influential person. His list of 13: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity and Humility. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly. ... After creating the list of virtues, Franklin did something really smart. Other weeks weren't as enjoyable, but they all felt like self-improvement. Temperance. How did Franklin approach his virtues? Want to start taking action on the content you read on AoM? **6. These virtues can be divided into those related to personal behavior (temperance, order, resolution, frugality, moderation, industry, cleanliness, and tranquility) and those related to social character traits (sincerity, justice, silence, chastity, and humility). • Last updated: September 29, 2020. He talked too much, especially about himself. in: A Man's Life, Featured, Lessons In Manliness, On Virtue, The Virtuous Life, Brett and Kate McKay Silence. For example, frugality is a virtue, yet being stingy is a vice. If you want to carry around a little book like Franklin did, get your hands on a pocket Moleskine and paste the chart from DIY planner in there. I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. Multiply it by four, and you get 52, the number of weeks in a year. I'm perfect now -- except for Humility, I suppose. Through this list of virtues, he sought to achieve “moral perfection”. "Yet as I was, by the Endeavor, a better and a happier Man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.". When Benjamin Franklin was 20, he wrote a 13-point plan for how he would live his life. 45 seconds . It was mentioned in a couple of paragraphs in the middle of a magazine article about Franklin, but reading it was like that key tied to the end of Franklin's kite in the storm: It charged a sudden desire to try the method myself. The first step was Franklin writing down a list of all the virtues he felt would help him better achieve moral perfection. His autobiography lists his 13 virtues as: “Temperance. One week, for Friendliness, I'd call a friend every day. "To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in someone else," His Holiness the Dalai Lama has since pointed out. 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