285 Year Old New Year Resolution

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When I first read the great Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, I was perhaps not yet 20 years old.  As I read about this great man it occurred to me how important it was for him to continuously improve his self. 'Self help' and 'self improvement' may have yet to be coined!

Young Benjamin Franklin thought hard on how he could ‘cultivate his character ’. To do this he had to identify the best of virtues and work hard on each one for the rest of his life. Being a printer’s apprentice and a printer himself, he made himself a card with week days on top and the 13 virtues he wanted to embrace, he was just 20 years and the year was 1726.  So this is the 285 year old New Year Resolution: ( had someone told him that he would be one of the signatories of The Declaration of Independence 50 years later as one of the "Founding Fathers of the USA ", do you think  young Ben would have believe  that prophesy?)

1-  Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2-  Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."

3-  Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."

4-  Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."

5-  Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."

6-  Industry. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary       actions.

7-  Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8-  Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."

9-  Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

10- Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation."

11- Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

12- 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."

13- Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

 Franklin did not try to work on them all at once. Instead, he would work on one and only one each week "leaving all others to their ordinary chance". While Franklin did not live completely by his virtues and by his own admission, he fell short of them many times, he believed the attempt made him a better man contributing greatly to his success and happiness, which is why in his autobiography, he devoted more pages to this plan than to any other single point; in his autobiography Franklin wrote, "I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.”

Thank You!