Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin created a system to develop his character. In his autobiography, Franklin listed his thirteen virtues as:

1.  Temperance.

     Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2.  Silence.

     Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;
     avoid trifling conversation.

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 no expense but to do good to others or yourself;

     i.e., waste nothing.

6.  Industry.

     Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful;

     cut off all unnecessary actions.

7.  Sincerity.

     Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly,

     and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8.  Justice.

     Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits

     that are your duty.

9.  Moderation.

     Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries

     so much as you think they deserve.

10.  Cleanliness.

       Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths,

       or habitation.

11.  Tranquillity.

       Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common

       or unavoidable.

12.  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.

13.  Humility.

       Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

ThirteenVirtues.com brings Franklin's simple system to the information age. You can track your progress against Franklin's virtues with your favorite web browser. Or maybe you don't agree with all of Franklin's original 13 virtues - no problem. Just add, remove, or change them so that you only track what you are interested in.

Learn more about
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

"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." - Benjamin Franklin

Lessons In Manliness: 

Benjamin Franklin’s Pursuit of the Virtuous Life

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/06/01/the-virtuous-life-wrap-up/

Benjamin Franklin is an American legend. 

He single handily invented the idea of the “self-made man.”
Despite being born into a poor family and only receiving two years of formal schooling, Franklin became a successful printer, scientist, musician, and author. Oh, and in his spare time he helped found a country, and then serve as its diplomat.