Ben Franklin’s 13 Necessary Virtues
Oct 05, 2022 · 4 mins read
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Ben Franklin’s 13 Necessary Virtues
In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, we find a list of thirteen virtues that “occurr’d to me as necessary or desirable.” These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:
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1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
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2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
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3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
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4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
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5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
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6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
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7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
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