Resources: Benjamin Franklin (Virtues)

Posted by admin on October 25, 2009 under Benjamin Franklin Resources, Resources | Be the First to Comment

Benjamin Franklin’s the Art of Virtue: His Formula for Successful Living

Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest American minds of the 18th century, and his goal was to be a doer of good and to live a useful life. His dedication to principles of self-improvement and his belief that these principles could be beneficial to all led him in 1760 to “propose … a little work … to be called The Art of Virtue”.

Though Franklin never completed the project, editor George L. Rogers has culled Franklin’s writings to assemble the book he might have written. The Art of Virtue is arranged according to twelve principles which guided Franklin’s life, including Franklin’s thoughts on goals and personal development, family and interpersonal relationships, business and wealth, ethics, good health, aging, and more.

The Art of Virtue is full of profound insight, delightful humor, quotable quotes — and plenty of common sense.

Benjamin Franklin has contributed to Benjamin Franklin’s the Art of Virtue: His Formula for Successful Living as an author. Frankling was a U.S. Statesman, writer and scientist.

Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Author: Benjamin Franklin, George L Rogers, John Hamer,
Edition Number: 3
Language: English
ISBN: 0938399101
EAN: 9780938399100
No. of Pages: 312
Publish Date: 1996-12-31
Binding: Paperback

Names of Virtues with their Precepts are

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 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 Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.
11 . Tranquillity.
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.