What is it to live a virtuous life? In 1726, at the age of twenty Benjamin Franklin had some ideas of what he believed to be a virtuous existence. To be a virtuous person or in other words to be a person of excellent moral character according to Franklin hinged on thirteen virtues which he attempted to follow and recorded his progress on a daily basis. In his autobiography he shared each with us:
- Temperance
- Silence
- Order
- Resolution
- Frugality
- Industry
- Sincerity
- Justice
- Moderation
- Cleanliness
- Tranquility
- Chastity
- Humility
Franklin is credited with some of the most phenomenal innovations and thought processes. The city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, pays homage to Franklin in many ways, but most significantly with the Franklin Institute that provides a “window into” Franklin’s world of innovation and creativity. Children and adults alike come to be inspired and dazzled with this man’s work and the legacy he created for each of us. Over the coming weeks I am going to write on each of these virtues and will modernize where necessary. My goal is simple; illuminate Franklin’s virtues by providing insights that are reflective of our current age and lifestyle. My desire is that we both learn a little bit more about what constitutes a virtuous life, at least according to Franklin and perhaps apply some of these lessons to our own life. Find resources and articles on MargaretPundmann.com: Globalized Workplace Integrity - We Are Our Word Connect to me: Margaret Pundmann's LinkedIn.com Profile Margaret Pundmann's MySpace.com Profile
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