1. The Autobiography Benjamin Franklin

2. virtue Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1.a conformity to a standard of right: morality 2.a particular moral excellence 3.a beneficial quality or power of a thing 4.manly strength or courage: valor 5.a commendable quality or trait: merit 6.a capacity to act: potency

3. precept Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary 1.a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action 1.an order issued by legally constituted authority to a subordinate official

4. Ben Franklin’s List of Virtues 1.Temperance 2.Silence 3.Order 4.Resolution 5.Frugality 6.Industry 7.Sincerity 8.Justice 9.Moderation 10.Cleanliness 11.Tranquility 12.Chastity 13.Humility

5. Temperance Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

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

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

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

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

10. Industry Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

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

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

13. Moderation Avoid extremes; forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

14. Cleanliness Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

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

16. 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.

17. Humility Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

18. Humility Humble (noun) Not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive Reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission Ranking low in hierarchy or scale Not costly Humiliate (verb) To reduce to a lower position in one’s own eyes or others’ eyes

19. Keeping track Created a chart to track success with cultivating good virtues (habits). Worked on one per week – a thirteen week cycle Could complete four cycles/year Ordered them so that each virtue would help him succeed with the following virtues.

20. Anecdote Weeding a garden Illustrates that it is easier to work on one garden bed at a time, rather than tackle all the weeds at once. He choose to tackle one virtue a week, rather than all 13 at the same time.

21. Daily Schedule To help with order, he created a daily schedule

22. Order Most trouble to accomplish Trouble with schedule: – Most of his business did not rely on a routine day, but depended on the schedule of others – He conducted much of his business overseas Trouble with papers and things: – Not in the habit of organizing things – In youth had a good memory, to it was not that important

23. Anecdote of the “Speckled Ax” Man wanted the face of his ax to be as bright as the edge Took to a grinder who said he would hold the ax while the owner turned the grinding stone After a while, the owner tired of the turning and decided that although the face of the ax was not entirely bright, a speckled ax was ok

24. Meaning of Anecdote Ben Franklin pokes fun at himself. He has set goals that are difficult to perfect. He will settle for being improved, not perfect. States that he would look ridiculous (like a “fop” if he were perfect.

25. Franklin states: Even though he did not succeed with his original plan, he is a better man for having undertaken this plan

26. More details: He wrote this when he was 79 years old He shared his wisdom with his posterity – his children and future generations

27. What did he gain by cultivating these virtues? Temperance – Good health and a good constitution Industry and Frugality – The early easiness of his circumstances [he retired from his printing business at 42] – Acquisition of his fortune [he became a wealthy man] – Knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen – A reputation among the learned

28. What did he gain by cultivating these virtues? cont. Sincerity and Justice – The confidence of his country and jobs that required that confidence All of the virtues: – An even temper – Cheerfulness – Good conversationalist – Agreeable to youth

29. “I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.” Benjamin Franklin