CELEBRATE BEN’S BIRTHDAY

Celebrate Ben Franklin's birthday, January 17, 1706.

He lived to age 84 following the 13 Virtues he spelled out when he was 20, namely:

1.    Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

 Benjamin Franklin.
Marble bust
  by Jean-Antoine Houdon:
1778

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 employ'd 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 extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, 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.

BTW: Franklin did not try to work on them all at once. Instead, he would work on one and only one each week "leaving all others to their ordinary chance". While Franklin did not live completely by his virtues and by his own admission he fell short of them many times, he believed the attempt made him a better man contributing greatly to his success and happiness, which is why in his autobiography, he devoted more pages to this plan than to any other single point; in his autobiography Franklin wrote, "I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.BTW: Franklin didn’t try to work on them all at once. Instead, he would work on one and only one each week "leaving all others to their ordinary chance."

While Franklin did not live completely by his virtues and, by his own admission, he fell short of them many times, he believed the attempt made him a better man, contributing greatly to his success and happiness . And it's been suggested that this is why he devoted more pages to this plan than to any other single point in his autobiography.

Franklin also wrote, "I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit."

Sow these seeds and, perhaps, so shall ye reap.

Geoff Steck
Chief Catalyst
Alexander Publishing & Marketing

8 Depot Square

Englewood, NJ 07631
201-569-5373

tgimguy@gmail.com

P.S.  “The doors of wisdom are never shut.” Can you guess who also said that?