Benjamin Franklin’s Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen VirtuesThirteen Virtues

By Mr. EichmannBy Mr. Eichmann

TemperanceTemperance

Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevationEat not to dullness; drink not to elevation

Calls for people to eat and drink enough to Calls for people to eat and drink enough to be satisfied.be satisfied.

SilenceSilence

Speak not but what may benefit others or Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversationyourself; avoid trifling conversation

Calls for people to only say what will Calls for people to only say what will benefit others or yourself and avoid benefit others or yourself and avoid wasteful conversation.wasteful conversation.

OrderOrder

Let all your things have their places; let Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its timeeach part of your business have its time

Calls for people to let their favorite things Calls for people to let their favorite things have their place, but to also let their have their place, but to also let their business have its time.business have its time.

ResolutionResolution

Resolve to perform what you ought; Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.perform without fail what you resolve.

Calls for people to resolve to do what they Calls for people to resolve to do what they planned and plan what they want to planned and plan what they want to resolve.resolve.

FrugalityFrugality

Make no expense but to do good to others Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; waste nothing or yourself; waste nothing

Calls for people to always do good to Calls for people to always do good to others and themselves and waste nothing others and themselves and waste nothing in the process.in the process.

IndustryIndustry

Lose no time; be always employed in Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary something useful; cut off all unnecessary actionsactions

Calls for people to always do something Calls for people to always do something useful and to not waste time on useful and to not waste time on unnecessary thingsunnecessary things

SinceritySincerity

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly

Calls for people to think justly, speak Calls for people to think justly, speak respectfully, and avoid hurtful words.respectfully, and avoid hurtful words.

JusticeJustice

Wrong none by doing injuries; or omitting Wrong none by doing injuries; or omitting the benefits that are your dutythe benefits that are your duty

Calls for people not to injure others or Calls for people not to injure others or prevent other people from receiving prevent other people from receiving praise.praise.

ModerationModeration

Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserveso much as you think they deserve

Calls for people to live a balanced life and Calls for people to live a balanced life and avoid extremes.avoid extremes.

CleanlinessCleanliness

Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. or habitation.

Calls for people to have their body, Calls for people to have their body, clothes, school, and home look clothes, school, and home look appropriate.appropriate.

TranquilityTranquility

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents that are unavoidable.that are unavoidable.

Calls for people to not be disturbed by little Calls for people to not be disturbed by little things or accidents that are unavoidable.things or accidents that are unavoidable.

ChastityChastity

Rarely use venery but for health or Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or offspring; never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. or reputation.

Calls for people to maintain healthy Calls for people to maintain healthy relationships with others and to avoid relationships with others and to avoid hurting another’s peace or reputationhurting another’s peace or reputation

HumilityHumility

Imitate Jesus or SocratesImitate Jesus or Socrates

Calls for people to imitate a positive figure Calls for people to imitate a positive figure from history, like Jesus or Socrates. from history, like Jesus or Socrates.