Frankly Speaking

Benjamin Franklin was a genius, no second thoughts about it. I'd spend a lot of time savor spending time talking about the contributions he has made to..pretty much everything. One of these days I sure will. However, this ditty is about a code of conduct developed by a young Mr. Franklin, in his twenties, on his way back from London to Philadelphia. He followed the plan faithfully till he was 79, when he finally decided to document it in order to ensure he diligently followed it for the rest of his life, thanks to its efficiency.

His 13 virtues were as follows:

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 extreams; 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 dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY.
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

The way he implemented it was even more impressive. He gave attention to one virtue a week, so that at the end of 13 weeks, he would have completed an entire cycle. He then went back to virtue 1 and repeated the cycle.4 more times. He kept track of his progress by maintaining a notebook where he tabulated the 13 virtues against the days of the week. He used to review every day spent and place a dot near the virtue for every fault committed with respect to it. Initially, there were a lot of dots, but they diminished over a period of time. It did take a lot of effort, hardwork and discipline, but then the results speak for itself.

Happy New Year!! May this year get you closer to where you want to be.