Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography is a classic of American literature. The story of his life is fascinating, but it’s also very much a guide to how he lived and what he believed.
Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential figures in American history. He was a scientist, inventor and diplomat who helped found many of America’s most important institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania and the Library Company of Philadelphia. He also served as ambassador to France and as President of Pennsylvania.
Franklin’s autobiography is a candid look at his life and how he came to be the person he is today. In this passage, he begins by outlining 13 virtues that he believes are essential to leading a moral life: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility and chastity. He then sets about tracking his progress in living up to these virtues on a daily basis.
Franklin begins the autobiography by writing about how he was born into poverty but was able to rise through hard work and perseverance to become successful in business and politics.
After outlining these virtues, Franklin sets out to live by them himself by creating a system of accountability in which he tracks his progress on each virtue every week (or month). This system becomes known as “moral perfectionism”.
