Benjamin Franklin Autobiography of Ben Franklin Reader’s Notebook, p.45

The 15 th of 17 children, Benjamin Franklin left school at the age of 8 to work with his father as a tallow chandler. As an adult, he was a diplomat, businessman, philosopher, scientist, author, humorist, musician,and printer--a Renaissance Man. The 15 th of 17 children, Benjamin Franklin left school at the age of 8 to work with his father as a tallow chandler. As an adult, he was a diplomat, businessman, philosopher, scientist, author, humorist, musician,and printer--a Renaissance Man.

As a young man, Franklin rebelled against his Puritan rearing and its apocalyptic tenets. As a young man, Franklin rebelled against his Puritan rearing and its apocalyptic tenets. This image of St. Michael fighting the dragon represents the Millennarian belief that the “people of God” were at war with the devil (Indians.) This image of St. Michael fighting the dragon represents the Millennarian belief that the “people of God” were at war with the devil (Indians.)

He demonstrated his revolutionary thinking and his quest for moral perfection in the account of his journey of self-education The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. He demonstrated his revolutionary thinking and his quest for moral perfection in the account of his journey of self-education The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.”

Just yesterday on Oprah, Will Smith said… "I've made a decision that nothing in my life is going to be without purpose. I've grown to a place where I realize the only way to really be happy is to live in service to humanity," he says. "I want my work to mean something." "I've made a decision that nothing in my life is going to be without purpose. I've grown to a place where I realize the only way to really be happy is to live in service to humanity," he says. "I want my work to mean something."

Parents would rail at their children saying, “Why can’t you be more like Benjamin Franklin?” But that was impossible; his genius could not be replicated. Parents would rail at their children saying, “Why can’t you be more like Benjamin Franklin?” But that was impossible; his genius could not be replicated.

At the signing of the Declaration of Independence he said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.” At the signing of the Declaration of Independence he said, “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

Franklin's Poor Richard’s Almanack featured weather forecasts, drawings. inventions, and pithy aphorisms. Franklin's Poor Richard’s Almanack featured weather forecasts, drawings. inventions, and pithy aphorisms. 1.A friend in need is a friend indeed. 2.Better slip with foot than tongue. 2.Better slip with foot than tongue. 3.Fish and visitors smell in three days. 3.Fish and visitors smell in three days. Printing Press

His natural curiosity about the way things work prompted him to find ways to make life better His natural curiosity about the way things work prompted him to find ways to make life better and gave him the opportunity to say something pithy.

The Franklin Stove to heat homes safely. Bifocals to help him see both near and far. A carriage Odometer to figure out mail routes. A Lightning Rod to protect structures. In addition, he established the first fire fighting company and the first fire insurance company. In addition, he established the first fire fighting company and the first fire insurance company.

His “Thirteen Virtues” became guideposts for the ideal life. His “Thirteen Virtues” became guideposts for the ideal life.

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.

Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

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.

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 uncleanness 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 dullness, weakness or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. 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.

Humility: Imitate Jesus

Silence Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

Franklin used this chart to keep track of whether he was meeting his goals of upholding his virtues. Franklin used this chart to keep track of whether he was meeting his goals of upholding his virtues.

Directions: Get your Readers Notebooks. Get your Readers Notebooks. Go to page 45. Go to page 45. Read pages – HIGHLIGHT OR UNDERLINE WORDS OR PHRASES THAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND and I will help you. Read pages – HIGHLIGHT OR UNDERLINE WORDS OR PHRASES THAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND and I will help you. Answer the following questions in your RN: Answer the following questions in your RN: P. 46, all three P. 46, all three P. 48, all three P. 48, all three P. 49, the first two P. 49, the first two P. 50, the last two P. 50, the last two

Directions, Continued Answer the following questions in your RN: Answer the following questions in your RN: P. 46, all three P. 46, all three P. 48, all three P. 48, all three P. 49, the first two P. 49, the first two P. 50, the last two P. 50, the last two