When he was 20-years old Benjamin Franklin composed thirteen virtues to build his character.
He created a notebook that enabled him to assess his improvement each day. He would then grade himself daily.
The photo above indicates that he was concentrating on temperance that week. The next week he would pay particular attention to the silence virtue. He would continue, however, to grade himself on all the other virtues.
The asterisks on the photo indicate where he slipped-up on that particular week.
Here are his descriptions of those virtues:
- 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 employed 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, clothes, or habitation.
- Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Chastity. Rarely use sex 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.
Many years ago I followed Franklin’s plan. It helped. Maybe I should return to my BF check list.