Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue: his formula for

successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue: his formula for

successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue: his formula for

successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue: his formula for

successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue:

his formula for successful living

Many people lead bad lives that would gladly lead good ones, but do not know

how to make the change Poor Richard's Almanack – 1734

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue:

his formula for successful living

Many people lead bad lives that would gladly lead good ones, but do not know

how to make the change Poor Richard's Almanack – 1734

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue:

his formula for successful living

Many people lead bad lives that would gladly lead good ones, but do not know

how to make the change Poor Richard's Almanack – 1734

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of Virtue:

his formula for successful living

Many people lead bad lives that would gladly lead good ones, but do not know

how to make the change Poor Richard's Almanack – 1734

And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit his

assistance for obtaining it; to this end I formed the following little prayer, which was prefix'd to my tables of examination, for daily

use.

“O powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my

truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other

children as the only return in my power for thy continual

favors to me.”

And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit his

assistance for obtaining it; to this end I formed the following little prayer, which was prefix'd to my tables of examination, for daily

use.

“O powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my

truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other

children as the only return in my power for thy continual

favors to me.”

And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit his

assistance for obtaining it; to this end I formed the following little prayer, which was prefix'd to my tables of examination, for daily

use.

“O powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my

truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other

children as the only return in my power for thy continual

favors to me.”

And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to solicit his

assistance for obtaining it; to this end I formed the following little prayer, which was prefix'd to my tables of examination, for daily

use.

“O powerful Goodness! Bountiful Father! Merciful Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my

truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other

children as the only return in my power for thy continual

favors to me.”

I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's

Poems, viz.:

Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!

O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!

Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit; and fill my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;

Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!

I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's Poems, viz.:

Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!

O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!

Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit; and fill my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;

Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!

I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's

Poems, viz.:

Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!

O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!

Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit; and fill my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;

Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!

I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's Poems, viz.:

Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!

O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!

Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,

From every low pursuit; and fill my soul

With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;

Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!

It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I

wished to live without committing any fault at any time, and to

conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company

might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and

avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more

difficulty than I had imagined….

chapter 6 The Art of Virtue

It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I

wished to live without committing any fault at any time, and to

conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company

might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and

avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more

difficulty than I had imagined….

chapter 6 The Art of Virtue

It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I

wished to live without committing any fault at any time, and to

conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company

might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and

avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more

difficulty than I had imagined….

chapter 6 The Art of Virtue

It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I

wished to live without committing any fault at any time, and to

conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company

might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and

avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more

difficulty than I had imagined….

chapter 6 The Art of Virtue

Benjamin Franklin developed a Plan for regulating his future conduct. He was motivated by Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. He gave strict attention to one virtue a week so one cycle is 13 weeks long. In one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times. He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, He always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

Benjamin Franklin developed a Plan for regulating his future conduct. He was motivated by Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. He gave strict attention to one virtue a week so one cycle is 13 weeks long. In one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times. He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, He always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

Benjamin Franklin developed a Plan for regulating his future conduct. He was motivated by Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. He gave strict attention to one virtue a week so one cycle is 13 weeks long. In one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times. He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, He always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

Benjamin Franklin developed a Plan for regulating his future conduct. He was motivated by Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. He gave strict attention to one virtue a week so one cycle is 13 weeks long. In one year he would complete the course a total of 4 times. He tracked his progress by using a little book of 13 charts. At the top of each chart was one of the virtues. The charts had a column for each day of the week and thirteen rows marked with the first letter of each of the 13 virtues. Every evening he would review the day and put a mark (dot) next to each virtue for each fault committed with respect to that virtue for that day. Initially he found himself putting more marks on these pages than he ever imagined, He always carried the little book with him as a reminder.

THE THIRTEEN 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 employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

THE THIRTEEN 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 employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

THE THIRTEEN 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 employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

THE THIRTEEN 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 employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 7. SINCERITY: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES CONT’D

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, cloths, 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

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES CONT’D

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, cloths, 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

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES CONT’D

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, cloths, 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

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES CONT’D

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, cloths, 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