A few years ago, my family and I ventured to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences and happened upon an exhibit on Benjamin Franklin - WOW!! What an amazing human and bravo to our Founding Fathers!!Old Benny was a pretty fascinating guy to say the least. But, what really struck me was his determined adherence to a self-made list of "Virtues to Live By". At age 20, he came up with 13 different virtues, based on personal behaviors and social character traits, and went as far as to keep a daily journal monitoring his progress on each of them until his death at 84.
Obviously, some come easier than others. I like the idea and I'm working it out.
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 employ’d 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, cloaths, 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.
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