Benjamin Frankiln's "Art of Virtue"

In his partially completed autobiography, Benjamin Franklin shared 13 virtues and the monitoring system he used, as he sought to invoke the 13 virtues into his daily life. As one of most generative of our Founding Father's, I share them with you as a tribute on Independence Day.

The Art of Virtue

by: Benjamin Franklin

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 employ'd 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 Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.

11 . Tranquility.
Be not disturbed at Trifles, or at Accidents common or unavoidable.

12. Chastity.
Rarely use Venery, [indulgence in or pursuit of sexual activity], 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.

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In a great country that provides unequaled freedoms, we are all free to be virtuous as well. Happy Independence Day!

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Benjamin Franklin and the Junto

Ben Franklin's Junto was called the Leather Apron Club

Benjamin Franklin is my personal favorite among the Founding Fathers. In part, because he was so enthusiastically multifaceted and loved books, and, in part, because he too was an author and printer/publisher. On the eve of the United State's Independence Day, I felt inspired to share a little about this mega-creator and noted international statesman. Among his numerous credits are: playing a major role in the founding of the University of Pennsylvania, establishing the country's first public library, and, most of us are familiar with his exploits involving a key, a kite and a lightening storm.

What many of us are less familiar with, may be his almost life-long practice of self-improvement in a group environment, in a group Franklin called, the Junto. In 1727, (282 years ago), Benjamin Franklin, then 21 years old, created the Junto, a group of like minded aspiring artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community. Franklin credited many of his life's successes to his participation in the collective thought and activity of the Junto.

Numerous luminaries have explored and endorsed the concept of the Junto, including:

* Author Napolean Hill, who often referred to this type of a group as the "Master Mind";

* Psychiatrist Carl Jung who describes its virtues as the "Collective Unconscious"; and,

* Physicist Albert Einstein had a group, and called his small group "The Olympia Academy."

Are you involved in the regular practice of self-improvement? If so, do you have a cooperative group that is aligned toward the same goal(s)? If not , today is the day to start. If you're on facebook there is new page that utilizes the principle called, The Success & Prosperity Mastermind. So, no excuses, join forces with someone today and watch you efforts multiply exponentially.

With all that Franklin accomplished, (only the tip of the ice berg is highlighted above), one of Franklin's most enduring Legacy elements can be found in the words of his autobiography, specifically, his 'Art of Virtue.' Franklin never finished his autobiography and in some ways robbed us all of his wisdom and intellect by not doing so. Franklin would have deemed this one among of his life's 'great errata', I will suppose. However, each of us can learn from what he did share, and use his examples to begin to forge and record our own rich and lasting legacies.

Tomorrow, in Benjamin Franklin's honor for Independence Day, we will post Ben Franklin's Art of Virtue. Stay tuned....

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