Franklin's Virtues Reflection

Benjamin Franklin was very smart and loved gaining as much knowledge as possible. In fact, not only did he want to be "book smart", but he also set up a system in which he could learn or try to become a better person. Ben Franklin wrote a list of thirteen virtues. He would try to follow these virtues to the best of his ability and made it a goal to follow as many of them as possible. He even went as far as designing a chart that allowed him to check off the virtues that he felt he needed to work on. He did this pretty much on a daily basis. Some of his virtues include Silence, Humility, and Sincerity. I find it very interesting how he came up with all of these virtues. I also think that his virtues are good ones to try and live by. For example, Sincerity is this: Use not hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly (Franklin 149 ). All this is saying is that you should not do anything or say anything that will hurt others and that you should not think mischievously or unjust, but rather have thoughts that are good. It sounds easy enough to follow these virtues because most of them are really not that hard to follow. However, Ben Franklin knew better. That is why he started to make an actual chart and started to set personal goals for himself. Goals that would hopefully help him achieve to become a better person.

I obviously do not think that anyone can be perfect. They just can not. We often speak before we think and say and do things that we often do not think through. So no, I do not think that Ben Franklin's virtues were one hundred percent successful. However, I think that you could say it was somewhat successful just because he thought about it in the first place and at least he tried. Although Ben Franklin was not perfect, he set up these goals to at least be a reminder of what he should strive for. For example, he was not good when it came to the silence virtue and that was something that he needed to work on (Franklin 15). In Tuckerman's criticism he explained how Ben Franklin was more focused on the details. He believed that even the smallest details could make a difference in a person (Bloom, Harold). I think ultimately that was what Ben Franklin was striving for all along. So yes, actually, I do think that he was successful. Ben Franklin never said that he was striving to be perfect. He just wanted to be the best version of him that he could be. I think that Benjamin Franklin was a very smart man. I also think that he probably did better with those virtues than I, and many other people could have. I have really enjoyed learning about Ben Franklin and all of his accomplishments. I think he was very smart to this day he is still teaching us things.

Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." Benjamin Franklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.

Franklin, Benjamin. Autobiography. Harvard University, 1895. Print.