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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 78
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influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect state he was
able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper, and that cheerfulness in
conversation, which makes his company still sought for, and agreeable even to
his younger acquaintance. I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may
follow the example and reap the benefit.
It will be remark'd that, tho' my scheme was not wholly without religion, there
was in it no mark of any of the distingishing tenets of any particular sect. I
had purposely avoided them; for, being fully persuaded of the utility and
excellency of my method, and that it might be serviceable to people in all
religions, and intending some time or other to publish it, I would not have any
thing in it that should prejudice any one, of any sect, against it. I purposed
writing a little comment on each virtue, in which I would have shown the
advantages of possessing it, and the mischiefs attending its opposite vice; and
I should have called my book The Art Of Virtue,(7) because it would have shown
the means and manner of obtaining virtue, which would have distinguished it from
the mere exhortation to be good, that does not instruct and indicate the means,
but is like the apostle's man of verbal charity, who only without showing to the
naked and hungry how or where they might get clothes or victuals, exhorted them
to be fed and clothed.--James ii. 15, 16.
But it so happened that my intention of writing and publishing this comment was
never fulfilled. I did, indeed, from time to time, put down short hints of the
sentiments, reasonings, etc., to be made use of in it, some of which I have
still by me; but the necessary close attention to private business in the
earlier part of thy life, and public business since, have occasioned my
postponing it; for, it being connected in my mind with a great and extensive
project, that required the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen
succession of employs prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remain'd
unfinish'd.
In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine, that
vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but forbidden
because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; that it was,
therefore, every one's interest to be virtuous who wish'd to be happy even in
this world; and I should, from this circumstance (there being always in the
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