It was about this time circa 1728 that i conceivd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. Lets go through it, see whats useful, and also highlight whats missing. How ben franklin conceivd his bold and arduous project. Ben franklins discipline of cultivating virtues assignment.
He realized that taking on all of these virtues at once was a recipe for disaster. Think about things that you are good at and things that you like about yourself. With 52 weeks in a year, you will have worked your way through the entire list of virtues four times. Ben franklins virtues, ben franklins aphorisms and virtues. Benjamin franklin 17061790 was one of americas most influential founding fathers.
Its quite the list of virtues and certainly nothing easy to live up to. While researching history i came across ben franklins system for becoming a better man and was instantly intrigued by it. Imitate jesus and socrates, and mind you dont outshine either of these two. Benjamin franklin was born in 1706 into a family of very modest means. Then, he realized what a difference living these virtues had made in his life. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. I wishd to live without committing any fault at any time. Never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anothers peace or reputation. Franklin focused on one virtue per week and tracked his progress. Speak not but what may benefit others or your self. Ben franklin s discipline of cultivating virtues assignment matthew eriksen 1 providence college set your heart on doing good. He was a founding father, a scientist, a writer, and so much more. Ben franklin virtue journals are back in stock the art.
Ben franklins virtues that he lived his life by youtube. Reminding us of the humorous, irreverent side of this american icon, these essays endure as both hilarious satire and a timely reminder of the importance of a free press. Franklin invented the lightning rod, the franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and bifocals. A fool is happy until his mischief turns against him. And a good man may suffer until his goodness flowers. We typically ship orders out within 24 hours of receiving them. His goal was to improve himself with regard to each virtue so that over time he was a better person in that regard, and by being a better overall person, he was more open to lifes opportunities. Writings of benjamin franklin you never read in school. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy. Charts containing all thirteen of benjamin franklins virtues and descriptions at least, according to the flamebright site a completely blank template, with only days of the week this is suitable for more than tracking virtues, of course e. The ben franklins virtues daily record and journal combines franklins daily schedule with the selfimprovement chart he created for himself as a young man. Franklin always carried a booklet with these virtues.
The design of this heirloomquality journal is inspired by both ben franklins original diary and his virtue charts. There were charts with the first letter representing the virtue. Each week he would specifically focus on one virtue. Ben followed this plan for the attainment of moral perfection in some form for the rest of his life. Benjamin franklin s chart of virtues virtue s m t w th f s temperance. Ben franklins virtues daily record and journal paper. On wealth, luxury, and virtue national humanities center. Benjamin franklin was a polymath by all accounts, and he didnt get to that point by slacking off. Each week he turned to the next page of the journal and undertook the gaining of the next virtue.
Here are some things i took away from walter isaacsons biography. Table 2 ben franklins virtues recording table from 8pm to 9pm daily he would undertake the examination of the day. It was so successful that he stuck to it for many years. Benjamin franklins virtues here are the virtues that franklin tracked and reflected upon each day. Franklins virtues how ben franklin conceivd his bold and arduous project. Click here to download ben franklins virtues for the journal. In part two, the virtues are presented in his sequence, along with corresponding illustrations and proverbs from poor richard. Start studying ben franklins virtues, ben franklins aphorisms and virtues. Since he focused on one virtue per week, hed complete 4 cycles each year virtues, 52 weeks. I determined to give a weeks strict attention to each of the virtues successively. The virtues are written in a progressive succession, designed to gradually moderate and improve the life of the subject.
Increase effectiveness with this simple morning ritual accidental creative. At the beginning of each week, he would bring out a fresh form. Turns out thomas jefferson wasnt the only one who was way ahead of us in his autobiography, ben franklin discusses the time when hed first committed himself to following the virtues he considered necessary for moral perfection. He found that following the plan increased his happiness so much that he kept it up for the. Benjamin franklins chart of virtues knowledge house. Think about benjamin franklins essay on virtues and the discussion in class today.
Ben franklins two daily questions and virtues ethics. Introducing the ben franklins virtues daily record. The journal provides you an incredible tool to improve your life and develop upstanding character, while also getting you more focused and organized with your daytoday tasks. I proposd to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annexd to each, than a few names with more ideas. When benjamin franklin was 20, he wrote a point plan for how he would live his life. Each time he disobeyed a virtue, hed mark it in his booklet. Further, the virtues require introspection and reflection, a key to effective thinking and decision making. The design of this heirloomquality journal is inspired by both ben franklin s original diary and his virtue charts. He was also famous for his virtues, a list of rules and moral guidelines that he created at the age of 20, according to cbs. Benjamin franklins chart of virtues virtue s m t w th f s temperance. Benjamin franklins book of virtues, hardcover september 27, 2016 by benjamin franklin author. At the right is the actual form that ben used to track his progress. What are benjamin franklins life values that can be.
Ben franklins discipline of cultivating virtues assignment matthew eriksen 4 providence college in the columns below, list out your four virtues. Download the journal 8 davidrm softwares the journal. In 1726, at the age of 20, benjamin franklin created a system to develop his character. In his own words, straight from his autobiography, here are the thirteen virtues that ben franklin sought to obtain. Franklins thirteen virtues, formulated in the late 1720s as described in his autobiography written 1771, 178485, 1788 in the various enumerations of the moral virtues i had met with in my reading, i found the catalogue more or less numerous, as different writers included more or fewer ideas under the same name. From 1771 to his death in 1790, benjamin franklin was in the process of writing what he referred to as his memoirs. Tips for using the franklin method im curious whether or not franklin really felt the need to work on virtues. Even so, franklin worked at these virtues throughout his life, but how he did so is just as interesting. Then think of things that you would like to change about yourself. Bullet journal virtues the pursuit of moral perfection. In his autobiography tp, franklin listed his thirteen virtues as.
I would not have any thing in it that should prejudice any one of any sect against it. He would focus on one point each week, such that he would cycle through the. One day he made a list of virtues that were the most important to him. Benjamin franklin wrote in his memoirs of abold and arduous project of arriving at perfection. But due to covid19, orders may be delayed by 23 days. Benjamin franklins autobiography be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. He was an author, printer, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, statesman, and diplomat.
This journal combines franklins daily schedule with the selfimprovement chart he created for himself as a young man. Benjamin franklin, one of the fathers of america, sought to constantly improve himself by using a plan of virtues, which he developed in 1726 at the age 20. Ben franklins virtues for the journal makes it easy to follow franklins plan, and even customize it to your own purposes. The amusing part is the sort of humility it displays. Benjamin franklins way to virtue, the american enlightenment, and mussar 1 shai afsai being fully persuaded of the utility and excellency of my method, and that it might be serviceable to people in all religions.
His father, josiah franklin, was a tallow chandler who married twice, and of his seventeen children benjamin was the youngest son. In his 1791 autobiography, ben franklin laid out his daily routine. Virtue by virtue he marked a black dot for each of the times he had not met its defined target. Page 3 introduction benjamin franklin was born in milk street, boston, on january 6, 1706. Ben franklin drew up a list of virtues, and created a chart to keep track of his progress. Then, he deliberately worked on each one of the virtues every week a. Ever since i wrote about ben franklins virtues and his diary back in 2008, i really wanted something like it for myself and for our readers. Like franklin, each night you will fill out your chart. The journal is divided into weeks one for each of franklins virtues with each week containing an agenda and journal section for each day.
I followed benjamin franklins daily routine for a week. A quaker friend told franklin that he, benjamin, was generally considered proud, so benjamin put in the humility touch as an afterthought. The journal is divided into weeks one for each of franklin s virtues with each week containing an agenda and journal section for each day. Part three provides a number of forms that may be reproduced to facilitate the keeping of a personal journal using franklins approach. All work and no play makes jack a dull employer urban times. The autobiography of benjamin franklin i proposd to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annexd to each, than a few names with more ideas. Today, theyd probably be called lower middle class at best. He felt that if he could only obtain the thirteen virtues that you.
A lesson on benjamin franklins project for moral perfection from the autobiography by laura gallinari course english language arts 1112. Benjamin franklins book of virtues books of american. It was franklins version of the quantified self, using pulp or wovenmold paper and a quill pen to create the excel spreadsheet of the 1700s. When benjamin franklin was 20 years old, he wrote up a point plan for how he would live his life. Based on sermons he had heard, he prepared a list of thirteen virtues he wished to perfect in himself, and then created a daily personal accountability chart to keep track of how well he had done in practicing those virtues that day. He would start with one of the virtues and plot his progress on the chart until he mastered that virtue.
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