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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 72
of 154
every other pleasure, appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even
to our avarice and ambition. I propos'd to myself, for the sake of clearness, to
use rather more names, with fewer ideas annex'd to each, than a few names with
more ideas; and I included under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time
occurr'd to me as necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept,
which fully express'd the extent I gave to its meaning.
These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:
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 employ'd 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 extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think
they deserve.
Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
Tranquillity. 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.
My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg'd it
would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but
to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then
to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro' the thirteen;
and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of
certain others, I arrang'd them with that view, as they stand above. Temperance
first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so
necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard maintained
against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and the force of perpetual
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