Benjamin Franklin's Thirteen Virtues

Virtues

Since Franklin's thirteen virtues and their principles are classified as adherence character traits or rules, I've divided them into personal and social traits.

Personal traits

The eight personal virtues relate to your attitudes toward activities and their challenges. Good personal character traits will better your chances of success in achieving your goals.

Temperance: "Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."

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."

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

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

Cleanliness: "Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation."

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

Note that some of the items in Franklin's list of virtues are not strictly behavior traits, since they may depend on personality or genetic inclinations. For example, some people have genetic inclinations toward eating or drinking alcohol in excess. Try as they may, it might be extremely difficult for them to follow the temperance guidelines.

However, it does not mean such a person has poor personal character or would not succeed in his or her activities. But it does mean that the person fails to follow Franklin's guidelines.

Social traits

These five social virtues that Franklin stated concern attitudes you should have toward people with whom you have dealings. Good social character traits result in other people wanting to do business with you or to have relationships with you.

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

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."

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."

Humility: "Imitate Jesus and Socrates."

Following to these principles shows good social character traits.