BENEFIT FROM BEN

[CROWN COUNCIL]

Some historians have said that Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest men America ever produced.  While there are some parts of his character that you may not want to use as a pattern of your own, the list of virtues he strived to produce would certainly be worthy of consideration :

 

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

2.  Silence.  Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. 

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

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

5.  Frugality.  Make not expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing.

6.  Industry.  Lose no time; be always  employed in something useful. 

7.   Sincerity.  Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly and speak accordingly.

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

9.  Moderation.  Avoid extreme; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

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

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

 

Ben Franklin said that it was beyond human capacity to work on all of these at once.  He chose to take them one at a time and when that was mastered move on to the next.  Maybe your list has some different content but this is certainly a good list for starters.