Starting over with Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues
I started my hiatus from work just before Christmas 2007 for reasons I don’t want to divulge at the moment. One thing sure is that I’d like to put some much needed focus into my life. So I’m starting with a clean slate. If you’re looking for my past posts from the old blog, then you’re out of luck. You’ll never see it again. The old database is safely tucked away in my personal archives.
I decided to start applying Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues in the hopes that when I’m finally back from hiatus I would return a new person in thoughts and in deeds. These virtues are divided into two character traits.
Personal
- Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- 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.
- Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
- Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
Social
- Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- 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.
- 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.
It will take some time for me to adjust myself. As they say, Rome was not built in a day. I plan to apply them one at a time for focus, like one virtue per day. Then reflect every night and post my thoughts here as they seem fit.
