Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:

his formula for

successful living

his formula for

successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:
his formula for
successful living

The Art of
Virtue:
his formula for
successful living

Benjamin Franklin's

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:

The Art of
Virtue:

his formula for successful his formula for successful

living
living

Many people lead bad lives that would

gladly lead good ones, but do not know
how to make the change

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

Poor Richard's Almanack 1734

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:

Benjamin Franklin's

The Art of
Virtue:

his formula for successful his formula for successful

living
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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.:

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!

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.:

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

CONTD

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES

CONTD

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

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

CONTD

THE THIRTEEN VIRTUES

CONTD

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

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