Benjamin Franklin: America's First Self-Improvement Guru?

by Midnight Freemasons Founder

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Benjamin Franklin had a particular practice that he established in his 20s and continued to practice throughout the course of his lifetime. He made a list of 13 virtues, printed them on little cards that he kept in his pocket, and each week he focused his efforts on improving himself in one virtue. Each day he kept track of how he did on that week’s virtue on his scorecards, and after he’d cycled through his list he started all over again. Franklin’s 13 “virtues” were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility.

These are frequently hailed as “Franklin’s 13 Virtues” . . . but that’s not exactly what they represent. It’s true that all thirteen of these traits are virtues, however, if you read about Benjamin Franklin, you’ll quickly come to realize that these aren’t Franklin’s virtues—this list represents his vices! After a long look in the mirror, Franklin realized at some point in his youth that his character was in bad need of improvement. He didn’t make a list of virtues he possessed, he made a list of virtues that he needed to work on. And that’s what he did. What’s most remarkable is that he continued working on these for the rest of his life.

Change is hard, and personal improvement and character development is even harder. As we learn from Franklin’s example, it’s a lifelong pursuit with a goal we never reach. It’s hard because it requires us to look in that mirror and be honest with ourselves. We have to be able to see ourselves as we really are, and recognize where we need work. And there are no shortcuts to building character. It’s very hard work. It requires dedication. It requires sustained determination. It requires self-discipline and self-control.

But as Masons, that’s what we signed on for—to learn subdue our passions and improve ourselves in Masonry. In other words, to learn self-control and self-discipline and begin down the path of becoming a true and upright Mason. To begin seriously working on that ashlar, knocking off all those rough and superfluous parts of our character.

I challenge you to do as Franklin did . . . reflect honestly on yourself, make a list of areas that need improvement, and start down that path to a better you.

A version of this article was originally published by the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville (IL) Valley Echoes Newsletter.

~TEC 

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and an award winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. Todd started the Midnight Freemason blog in 2006, and in 2012 he opened it up as a contributor blog The Midnight Freemasons (plural). Todd has written more than 1,000 pieces for the blog since it began. He is a Past Master of Homer Lodge No. 199 and Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research (FMLR). He is a charter member of the a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282 and currently serves as EHP. You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

Franklin's Virtues: In Conclusion

Over the last 13 weeks, The Midnight Freemason has been running this series of Benjamin Franklin's virtues. Franklin was committed to improving himself, which is why he established this list of virtues, and developed a program with which he spent a week trying to work on each one individually. He repeated this exercise over and over again through his lifetime. 

Franklin would be the first to admit he never accomplished his goal of moral perfection, but he felt he benefited greatly from constantly working on it. 

I hope you've enjoyed the series, and that you got something from it.  Below you'll find links to each of the virtues, and Ben Franklin's definitions of each.  I hope you'll revisit them again and again.  If you want to learn more about Franklin's Virtues, there's a number of books on the subject including The Art of Virtue: Ben Franklin's Formula for Successful Living.  Perhaps, if you are so motivated, you might even try Franklin's exercise yourself.

 

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues: The Introduction 

 

 Temperance

"Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

Order

"Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

Resolution

"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

Silence

"Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; Avoid trifling Conversation."

Frugality

"Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."

Industry

"Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions."

Sincerity

"Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."

Justice

"Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

Moderation

"Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

Cleanliness

"Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation."

Tranquility

"Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

Chastity

"Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation."

Humility

"Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

~TEC

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 4: Frugality

This is the fourth in a series of articles about the 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

FRUGALITY

Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing.

Benjamin Franklin grew up poor, and so he grew up knowing the value of money, and how important it was to waste nothing. Although he grew to be a very wealthy man, Benjamin Franklin never lived lavishly. He always lived a relatively simple life.

Today, many Americans live way beyond their means, and under a mountain of debts; mortgages, loans, credit cards, store charges. And, of course, due do that tremendous debt over our heads, we live life in constant anxiety over it. Franklin once said “Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty.”

Take some time this week to think about your own personal finances. Wouldn't you feel a lot better if you began figuring out how to live without debt?  Are there ways to reduce your debt? How much of that debt is actually necessary? How much of it is due to those little extravagances in your life you could do without? Are those little luxuries really worth the amount of worry they cause when you find yourself deeper and deeper in the hole?  What would you have to do to stop worrying about money?

If you exercise a little self-discipline and restraint when it comes to spending money, you'll find you have more of it.  Ask yourself every time you pull out your wallet this week--is this purchase really necessary? 


~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday posting that examine Benjamin Franklin’ 13 Virtues he believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 3: Resolution

This is the third in a series of articles about the 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

 

RESOLUTION

Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

Benjamin Franklin included resolution as one of his virtues, because he knew that by mastering it, he would master all the others as well. Resolution is about finishing what you start, and about accomplishing what you set out to do.

We’ve all heard the expression; don’t let your mouth write a check your ass can’t cash. Before you take something on, give serious consideration to whether or not it can actually be accomplished. We often have a difficult time saying no, and as a result, we wind up in situations where we can’t possibly do all the things we intended to do.

Decide those things that are important, and focus on them. Resolve to complete every task to the best of your ability before taking on more. Don’t take on more than you can possibly do. Nobody wants to be described as that person that “talks a good game, but doesn’t deliver.” In many ways, resolve it at the heart of the reputation we have. We are either a person that does what they say they’ll do, and accomplishes what we’ve promised—or we are not.

Which one are you?

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday posting that examine Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues he believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 2: Order

This is the second in a series of articles about the 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

ORDER

Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

Benjamin Franklin wanted to get more out of his life, and he knew the key to that was organization. He knew if he wanted to get the really big things done, he’d have to make sure the little things didn’t get in the way. So he worked on making sure he had a place for everything, and kept everything in its place.

You would think in a world of computers, ability to maintain organization and order would be easier, but it’s not. With new technology come new distractions, and mankind, as it always has, struggles to stay organized, manage their time, and make sure a million tiny details don’t overcome us at any given time.

So this week, as you consider this virtue, take a few minutes each day, and plan out your day. Take a few minutes each morning to get organized. Take a few minutes to contemplate if you’re reaching those big goals in your life, or if you’re mired down into the day to day struggles with the small ones.

Isn’t it time to get your house in order?

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday posting that examine Benjamin Franklin’ 13 Virtues he believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 5: Tranquility

This is the fifth in a series of articles about the 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

TRANQUILITY

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

Every day we encounter distractions, annoyances, and conflict. It’s inevitable. We have no control over these things, but we do have the ability to control how we react to them.

We all know that person that tries to control every situation, and winds up not only driving themselves crazy, but everyone around them as well. What is actually very simple and easy for most people becomes very complicated for them, because they make it that way. But there are very few things in the everyday course of life that are actually complicated. The simpler you keep your life, the less stress you’re going to feel, and the happier and more relaxed you’ll become.

There are things within your power to change, and there are things that are outside your ability to change. Focus on those things you can change, and let everything else go. If you can come to that acceptance, you’ll find there is a lot less stress in your life.

And when you’re calm and tranquil, when you stop worrying about those things that don’t matter very much, you’ll find you weather the real problems that come up much easier.

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine Benjamin Franklin’ 13 Virtues he believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 6: Silence

This is the sixth in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:

SILENCE

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;

avoid trifling conversation.

Sadly, polite manners and common sense have not kept pace with the modern technological developments of our rapidly changing society. In the world of Facebook, Twitter, cellphones and text messaging, many Americans spend so much time focused on themselves, and talking about themselves, and how wonderful they are, they seem to forget that other people exist at all.

We don’t listen to each other anymore. We’re so busy talking that we’ve forgotten than God gave us one mouth, but two ears. We’ve become a very selfish society, where it is perfectly acceptable to answer a phone call and have a loud discussion in a movie theater. Where it’s perfectly fine to block traffic in a busy intersection while you answer a text message. Where it is not considered rude by many to play ‘Angry Birds’ on your iPhone instead of listening to a presentation a co-worker spent weeks putting together.

Give yourself a break. Go off-line one day this week. Leave your cellphone at home. Stay off Facebook and Twitter. Give the ‘Angry Birds’ a rest. Notice the things going on around you for a change, and live in the real world for just one day. Listen to what other people say. Read what other people have written. Think about what you’re saying before you say it.

You might just realize after re-introducing yourself to the real world again, that it’s not all about you. You learn much more by listening than speaking.

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 8: Moderation

This is the eight in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:

MODERATION

Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

We’ve all had that experience of a new relationship. In the beginning, you can’t keep your hands off each other, but as time passes, soon you grow listless and bored as the electricity begins to fizzle out of the physical side of the relationship, and you realize there isn't much more there.

Or a new restaurant opens in your neighborhood, and you eat there constantly in the beginning.  It's not long before you begin tiring of it, and you start looking for other places to eat again.

Or you go on vacation to a beautifully breathtaking place, and for the first few days, you’re absolutely awed by the scenery. But by the time you leave a couple weeks later, you’ve gotten used to it.

We're all about finding new forms of stimulation, and we think the more we get the better off we are.  But in truth, we quickly we get used to things, and since we have a tendency to overdo everything, we quickly become numb to the things that once gave us so much pleasure.

We’re wired that more is better. We want more fun. More sex. More beer. More food. More money. More recreation.  More stuff. But the more we get of those things, the less we seem to enjoy them, and the less satisfied we are.  We all know somebody that seems to have it all, and yet, they don't seem happy.  How could that possibly be, you wonder.  You think if you had all the things they did, you could certainly find happiness--right?

That’s because the secret to fulfillment isn’t excess—it’s moderation.

This week, take a break from seeking new stimulation, and reconnect with the things around you that you’ve grown numb to. Notch things down a little bit, and learn to live in the moment. Appreciate the night sky. Stop wolfing down your food, and try and appreciate the flavors and textures. Turn off the television, and fall into a novel. Rediscover an old CD you haven’t listened to for a long time. Go outside, without your iPod, and enjoy the simple pleasures of the natural world around you.

We’re often victims of too much stimulation, and we get little enjoyment out of the things that should give us the most pleasure. Take a fast from stimulation—reserve those things you enjoy the most as rewards, and you’ll get more enjoyment out of them. You’ll find the anticipation of that treat is almost as good as the treat itself.

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection. You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 13: Humility

This is the thirteenth in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's virtues:

HUMILITY

"Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Most people misunderstand what it means to show humility.  It doesn't mean you have to be timid.  It is simply the absence of pride--and it's not that easy.  Benjamin Franklin was the first to admit that humility (and maybe one or two other of his virtues) was the one he had the most difficult time with. 
We're taught to be proud of the the things we accomplish.  We live in a world where we're taught than being accomplished is important--so when we accomplish something, we're anxious to brag about it.


Of course, in our Twitter and FaceBook saturated culture, it's all about "me, me, me . . ."  We believe the world begins and ends with our last post, or our last tweet.  We believe there are hundreds, perhaps even thousands, waiting in anticipation in cyberspace for our next update.


You may be chuckling right now.  But I think it's very American to have a difficult time showing humility.  Try something this week.  Try going a whole week without talking about yourself, taking credit for something, or bragging about something you accomplished.  You might find it a little more difficult than you thought.

~TEC 

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection. You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 12: Chastity

This is the twelth in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's virtues:

 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."

Perhaps the concept of chastity is outdated in our new modern society.  We live in a world where sex is everywhere.  It's used to sell goods and services, it's all over the internet, all over television, and the idea of waiting until marriage to have sex is laughable to many today.

But it doesn't seem like we're better off living in a world where sex is meaningless--just look at our divorce rate.  In our hook-up culture, we look at dating and sex the same way we look at buying a car--we're not going to buy a car without taking it for a test drive.  And after we buy that car, we'll drive it for a few years, until something goes wrong or it fails to thrill us anymore, and then we'll just trade it for another (perhaps a newer model.) 

The problem is, casual sex doesn't prepare us for settling into a meaningful relationship, in fact, it makes it more difficult for men to settle down, and give up the fun and adventure of new conquests.  It's also very hard for a "player" to find someone to be in a relationship with, due to his reputation and sexual history.  It's going to be hard to find a nice girl to settle down with someday that's going to forgive you for your numerous sexual partners--let alone ever trust you knowing your past behavior around the opposite sex. 

It would be a difficult sell to convince a young man to think twice about jumping into bed with the first female that winks at him, but it's worth thinking about.

~TEC 

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 11: Justice

This is the eleventh in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's virtues:

Justice

"Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

The concept of justice has been argued by philosophers for centuries, but it basically boils down to making sure everyone gets what they have coming to them.  If you do a day's work, you should receive a day's wages in a just world.  If you wrong somebody, you should be punished in a just world.  It means paying people fairly.  It's about not expecting people to do extra work without proper compensation.  It's about making sure that justice is blind, and the same punishments are distributed fairly for the same crimes.

We too often see justice as something our legal system or our government is responsible for ensuring, but we're all responsible to ensure that justice is served.  We see a co-worker treated badly and say nothing.  We hire somebody to do a job for us at far below what we know the job's worth.  We see somebody discriminated against and do nothing to rectify the situation.  We know somebody is guilty of a crime and say nothing because we don't want to get involved.

We can't depend on the police, the courts, and the government to provide justice.  If we want to live in a just society, we, as individuals have to take an active role.

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 10: Cleanliness

This is the tenth in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's virtues:

CLEANLINESS

"Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation."

I'm often a little surprised by how people show up for work these days.  Wearing a shirt that looks like it's been slept in, flip-flops, and three days growth on their face.  Then they complain about their job.

We may live in a more relaxed society than we once were, but don't fool yourselves that appearance is no longer important.  How we present ourselves is just as important as ever, and first impressions are still hard to overcome. If you present yourself as a disheveled disaster, that's the idea people are going to get about you.  And as relaxed as our society is, I still don't see a time when a big cobra tattoo on your neck isn't going to hold you back in the business world.

Having a good appearance not only helps to make a first impression, but it makes us feel good about ourselves.  It makes us feel more confident.  It tells our co-workers and our employers that we take our work seriously.  As a wise manager once told me, "you don't dress for the job you have, you dress for the job you want."

Think about that tomorrow morning as you're getting ready for work.

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 7: Industry

This is the seventh in a series of articles about Benjamin Franklin's Virtues:

INDUSTRY

Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

One thing has not changed since Benjamin Franklin’s day. People are easily distracted, and predisposed to waste time if given the opportunity. We’ve never in our history had more ways to waste time than today. We have more free time than ever. We have television, movies, handheld devices, computer games, Facebook, Twitter, vacations, concerts . . . there is no shortage of things we can do to entertain ourselves. And we do.

But it doesn’t stop people from complaining about the fact they never have enough time to do the things they want to accomplish in life. Benjamin Franklin’s answer to that? Don’t waste time. Focus on the things you want in life, and pay attention to how your spending your time.

Ben Franklin had a little schedule he carried around with him. It reminded him how he should be focusing his time. He set time aside for work. Time for meals. Time for recreational pursuits. And time for rest. He worked hard to make sure the time he wasted he kept at a minimum—and look at the things he accomplished in his life.

Another of America’s Founding Fathers well-known for his industriousness had this to say about it.

“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.”

~Thomas Jefferson

Spend some time this week thinking about where you waste your time—is it television? Facebook? Computer games? Give it up for a week and spend that time in pursuit of those goals you want to accomplish. See what can do in just a week, if you eliminate those frivolous distractions that occupy so much of your time.

 

This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 9: Sincerity

This is the ninth in a series of article about Benjamin Franklin's virtues:

SINCERITY

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

Often sincerity is confused with earnestness--genuine interest in those things a person professes to be interested in.  But actually sincerity is the absence of deceit.  In other words, honesty. 

Sincerity isn't just about telling the truth, it's also about being trustworthy.  About earning people's faith in you by being a person that keeps his confidences and avoids deceit.  Without a doubt, Franklin felt that honesty and integrity were the marks of true character.

We live in a world where we don't think much about what we say or do.  Almost as soon as we have a thought, we slap it up on Facebook or Twitter it without any consideration about what it says about others, or what it says about us.  When people don't agree with us, instead of trying to see the world from their perspective, we attack them.  We don't think much about how our actions reflect on our character.  We live in a no-regrets society where bad behavior is perfectly acceptable.

Back in Franklin's day, men worked a lot harder on building a solid reputation, and strove to be known as men of good character.  And while without question they misbehaved, said things they later regretted, and may have made some of the same errors we do today, they seemed to be a lot closer to their core values than we are today.

Of course, back in that day, if you insulted someone's character, you might find yourself facing off with them in a duel.  That was back when character meant something, and it was so important to maintain, you'd defend it at risk of death.


This is one of a series of Wednesday postings that examine the 13 Virtues Benjamin Franklin believed necessary to achieve moral perfection. You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues Week 1: Temperance

This is the first in a series of article about the 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin

TEMPERANCE 

Eat not to dullness;

drink not to elevation.

When Benjamin Franklin determined to pursuit a state of moral perfection and established his 13 virtues, one of the first he decided to focus on was temperance. He focused on this one first, because he knew attaining self-discipline over his tendencies to overdo things would make adherence to the other virtues easier.

Of course, Franklin’s definition speaks of moderation. Eating not to dullness or excess, but rather eating because you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full. And drinking not to elevation, but remaining in control of your actions, accepting personal responsibility and knowing when enough is enough.

Remember this weekend, as your dining out, or enjoying a few beverages, to think about what you’re doing. You are the master of your own universe, and in order master that universe, you must first gain mastery over yourself.

~TEC

This is one of a series of Wednesday posting that examine Benjamin Franklin’ 13 Virtues he believed necessary to achieve moral perfection.  You can find all the related articles by searching the blog under the “Franklin’s Virtues” label.

Benjamin Franklin's Virtues

Over a year ago, I started a series about Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues, and I realized over the weekend, I never finished it.  So I've finished the last few, and I'm going to repost the entire series, every Wednesday--starting with this short introduction.

Benjamin Franklin
(1706 - 1790)

Benjamin Franklin is an American legend, what we’d call today a “self-made man.” He was born into a poor family and only receiving two years of formal schooling. Regardless of his humble beginnings, Franklin became a successful printer, inventor, scientist, musician, diplomat, and writer.

The key to his success was that he constantly strove to improve himself. By the age of 20, Ben Franklin had set a lofty goal for himself.

“I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.”

Franklin's weekly chart to
track his progress

In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues. In order to keep track of how well he was doing in attaining his goal to, Franklin carried around a small book of 13 charts. Franklin evaluated himself at the end of each day. He placed a dot next to each virtue each had violated. The goal was to minimize the number of marks, thus indicating a “clean” life free of vice.

Franklin would pay particular attention to one virtue each week, trying hard not to get a single mark for an entire week on that virtue. So after 13 weeks he had moved through all 13 virtues and would then start all over again. It was a habit he continued for the rest of his life.

While Franklin never accomplished his goal of moral perfection, being particularly challenged by the virtues of temperance and chastity, but he felt he benefited from the exercise none-the-less.

“Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”

Applying Franklin’s Virtues To Your Life

I thought over the next several weeks, every Wednesday, I’d post one of Franklin’s virtues and his definition of it. Perhaps over the course of the next several weeks, it will help us all the think more about what we do every day, and perhaps by doing so, we may benefit by the exercise as Franklin did.

~TEC