Friday, May 29, 2009

Virtues

This is the time of year that I get caught up on the never ending reading list and become inspired. I've been listening to one book that had a chapter on our favorite $100 guy, you know the one with the key and lightening, the one that helped pen the US Constitution... have you guessed who,





Yep our buddy Ben. He was truly an interesting man, brilliant, well read / written, a truly great observer of the ordinary. He was a perpetual student. He was always learning and improving himself. He developed the list below so that he could make himself better today than he was yesterday. You can try just a simple exercise ---- the morning question to you "What good shall I do this day?" and at the end of day, the evening question "What good have I done today?". Read the list below, you may find that you are doing some or all of them. May you be inspired.......................





Benjamin Franklin's Thirteen Virtues.
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 extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS.
Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11.TRANQUILLITY.
Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY.
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY.
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

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