The 13 Virtues In Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential and well-respected men of his time. Through his autobiography, he shared the many methods he used to live his life as well as several suggestions for how others should live theirs. One of the most important and still-relevant methods that Franklin put forward was his concept of virtues: thirteen specific traits that, if practiced, would increase that person’s happiness and quality of life. He practiced his own virtues and stated that this helped him to become a better man. Long ago, I discovered his concept of virtues and began to practice them myself, which has significantly affected me as a person in what I believe to be a positive way. Franklin discusses his thirteen virtues in part two of his autobiography. The thirteen virtues he created are: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. Franklin then proceeded to work on one virtue at a time, stating “My intention being to acquire the habitude of …show more content…
It was a slow start, but it worked well. I avoided trouble most of the time, but I did come across a challenge in my junior year of high school. As a band student, there was much time to be alone and get into trouble. One day, some friends and I decided, as some immature teenagers might, to draw on a magazine we had found to get a few laughs. We did not realize that our director would later find our inappropriate “artwork” and harshly approach my section about it. It was difficult to own up to, but I believe my practice of sincerity is what gave me the strength to admit my deed in front of him, my section leaders, and my band mates. Without sincerity, I would be a much less trustworthy person than I am