This weeks article was about Benjamin Franklin and the virtues that he decided he needed to work on. It was his recounting on his days and how he approached obtaining these goals. He also talks about how he only finished the first couple before giving up. Some of his stories also talked about finding new qualities he needed to work on. The virtues he listed off 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 employed 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 extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. - Cleanliness
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, 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 dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. - Humility
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
I think that of these virtues would be good to work on. If everyone of these virtues were worked on throughout the world i think that the world would be a much better place. I dont think that everyone would be able to get all of them at once.. This is shown through Franklins example of him that he did not get anywhere close to obtaining his goal. I think that Franklin had the right idea in what he was doing however. It would be make people happier and societys clash less in the long run.
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