What does franklin credit to the 13 virtues

Franklin's plan to attain perfection astonishes the modern reader for many reasons, among them the assumptions on which such a plan was based. For our author assumed not only that man is perfectible but also that the perfecting can be completed fairly quickly. Franklin assumed that man is reasonable, that through his reason he can control himself, and that he can resolve, at a given moment, to unlearn "bad habits" of thought and action and substitute good ones.

He also assumed that what one should do in any given situation, the kind of action "good habits" would dictate, would be easy to identify. Franklin's view of man lacks the complexity one acknowledges in a post-Freudian world. But if he appears at points in-tolerably optimistic about human nature, he also acknowledges his failure to attain perfection with a modern, ironic sense of humor that still makes him likable.

Having seen that perfection would never be his, he decided that such a condition "might be a Kind of Foppery in Morals, which if it were known would make me ridiculous; that a perfect Character might be attended with the Inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent Man should allow a few Faults in himself, to keep his Friends in Countenance.

Franklin always assumed that virtue was worth pursuing because of its practical benefits, not because of some abstract worth. Order, resolution, and industry, for example, he felt would lead to affluence and independence.

And once these last two qualities were achieved, sincerity and justice would be easier to afford. His approach to specific virtues was therefore a practical one. In learning silence, he allowed himself to speak what would benefit him, and in learning frugality, to incur expense that would do him good.

It is not surprising, when the spirit behind this list is understood, that the original group of twelve virtues includes both temperance and moderation. 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.

Tranquility Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. Ideas in Motion. Temperance Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. It was his goal to focus on a particular virtue a week at a time.

His goal was that by focusing on a single virtue for a period of time he could more fully focus on that virtue. While it would be admirable to adhere to the complete list, perhaps there are one or two that are important to you, or perhaps there are other values that are most important to you.

Just planning such a list is the first step in self-improvement. This move allows you to clarify in your own head which virtues are most needed in your life, and which ones will bring you inner peace. It also helps you to get organized about your self-improvement so that it stops being a dream and starts to become who you are. View Larger Image. 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. Waste nothing.