Benjamin Franklin had created a list of 13 virtues at the age of 20 that he decided he wanted to live his life by. He found that after following the plan for a year that he was quite happy with his progress and decided to follow the plan for the rest of his life.
I had never heard of this plan before I was introduced to it by this wonderful website Simpleology.com I was intrigued by the idea and wanted to learn more about it. Once I started reading up about the virtues I thought I would like to share them with you. Along the way I found some great resources that I was able to get the information from.
- The first one I am sharing is a eBook resource Suggestions for Living Better From the Life of Benjamin Franklin This is a more detailed look that you can download to your computer.
- The second one is a favourite for many reasons. I have used this website (D*I*Y Planner) for a lot of things, but I have never even seen this on there before I went looking for it. With this link you can download and print out trackers to use to keep track of yourself using this plan.
- The third is where I got the next chunk of information to share with you. (Benjamin Franklin’s 13-point plan for virtuous living)
Here is the list of Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and 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.
8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
11. 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.
12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
I think it would be interesting to write out 13 virtues that I thought were important for me to follow in order to become the person that I want to be. That leads me to wonder if I already follow the virtues that will guide me to become the person I want to be.
The other interesting thing would be to take the list that I created for myself and compare it with this list above. How close or far apart would it really be? I have always believed that society’s true virtues have never really changed, I never thought that there would be 13 of them though :)
- Do you think that our virtues would be the same as these?
- Would they be close to it at least?
- Do you think that we have virtues that are way different?
