Thus, Franklin could cycle through the list four times a year as he set out to mold his character. He would spend a week on each virtue, and then go down the list in thirteen weeks before starting over again. Franklin planned to fix his attention on one virtue at a time so that he could “be Master of that” before moving on to the practice of another virtue. As a result, he added humility to the list. When he shared his list with a friend of his, Franklin was rankled to learn that many people thought him proud. With a few fits and starts, he jotted down twelve virtues that he would try to follow.įranklin’s list included temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, and chastity. Benjamin Franklin began to plan what he called a “bold and arduous Project of arriving at moral Perfection.” He was not a struggling man who was trying to turn his life around after a series of bad decisions in fact, Franklin had recently married and was a successful printer who was committed to serving the community as an emerging civic leader. In the late 1720s, a young Philadelphia printer sat down at a table by candlelight and opened up a small leather book. He would later enter politics and serve as a member of the Continental Congress, a diplomat to France, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Over the course of the next few decades, Franklin created a number of civic institutions including a volunteer fire department, a system of night watchmen, and educational academies. He also took part in civic life in Philadelphia by creating a subscription library. In doing so, Franklin learned an important lesson in moderation and prudence.Īfter running away to Philadelphia, he set up a printer’s shop and began making something of himself as an adult. His first goal was to stop being so argumentative-he came to believe that he did not need to win every debate. Realizing that he was rubbing people the wrong way and making as many enemies as friends, Franklin decided to reform his character. Franklin liked to argue and was seen as disputatious and a bit of a gadfly. As a young man, however, he rebelled against authority and loved to play devil’s advocate by questioning all accepted wisdom. Growing up, he heard a great deal about morality and religion in the Puritan society. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |