The Benjamin
Franklin 13-Week
Self-Improvement
Challenge
Energy and
persistence conquer all things.
Benjamin
Franklin
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues
Franklin
tracked his progress on charts he created. The first letter of each day was
listed on the top and the first letter of each virtue was indicated down the
left side. He would add a dot if he felt he fell short of meeting that virtue
of a given day. Benjamin Franklin carried these charts with him as a reminder
of his personal plan of conduct.
The
following 13 virtues continue to be relevant today. Next to each virtue is
Franklin’s definition.
1. Temperance
“Eat not to dullness.”
2. Silence
“Speak not but what may benefit other 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.”
8. Justice
“Wrong none, by doing
injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
9. Moderation
“Avoid extreme. Forebear
resending injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
10. Cleanliness
“Tolerate no uncleanness in body,
clothes or habitation.”
11. Chastity
“I would never do anything that would disrespect my wife”
12. Tranquility
“Be not disturbed at
trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
13. Humility
Like “Socrates.”
CHOOSE THE
RIGHT!!
