Ben Franklin's 13 Principles

[alf]

I am reading his bio, very interesting person with lots to learn from. I particularly like his 13 Principles of Success. Something we could all asipire to!

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 it's 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; waste nothing.

6-Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7-Sincerity: Use no harmful 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; forebear 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, nor at accidents.

12-Chastity: Be chaste in matters with the opposite sex.

13-Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

[Sonic dB]

"Well done is better than well said." - Ben Franklin

I wonder what it would have been like to have lunch or dinner with Ben Franklin.

[Paul_Heery]

If you want some interesting reading, try the Franklin Papers. I wish we had someone with his level of character, intelligence and insight guiding our government today.

[legion]

Stephen Covey really wrote 13 Principles.

[sammyg2]

While I agree with the 13 points, Ben Franklin is probably not a person to take advice from especially on matters of chastity and moderation. He was a womanizing drinker who constantly had at least one mistress and refused to support or even acknowledge his illegitimate children. His writings in poor Richard's Almanac are not consistent with his lifestyle. Had he lived in modern times he'd be a great democrat. He was definitely a "dandy".

Much like Jerry lewis, franklin was more popular in France than he was in the US.
In fact when the American revolution began he bid a hasty retreat to France.
Some historians suggest his purpose was to try and convince the French to join us and fight the British, while others say that was an excuse to flee the conflict.
Was he the first draft dodger? We'll never know, but his reported efforts to get the French to help nearly failed. Only after the British were cornered and the war was nearly over did they show up.

There are many founding fathers who deserve admiration more than Franklin, Men like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison who are almost single-handedly responsible for writing our constitution and designing the greatest system of government ever conceived.

[URY914]

What about the kite and key in the lighting storm?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by URY914

What about the kite and key in the lighting storm?

Well, 'ole Ben liked his beer...not one of his "brighter" moments imo

[sammyg2]

Now I'm not saying Ben wasn't a genius and wasn't hard working, He did lots of really neat, really good stuff. His work ethic was incredible.
But for him to preach morality is a bit much.
At one time (in my youth) I though Franklin was the coolest thing ever. I studied him and the more I learned, the less I respected him as a person.

[Gogar]

Good 'ol Ben woulda locked 95% of the threads on PPOT with his #2.

[Pazuzu]

Was he preaching morality? Or was he simply writing down some rules to live by...possibly for his OWN use, and 200 years later, people decided to pull them out and wave them around on the web as a Moral Code??

Geeze, if everytime someone writes down things that need to change in their lives, and that then becomes "moral preaching", we'd all be screwed.

[kstar]

My Dad taught me to to use the "Ben Franklin Balance Sheet" when confronted with difficult decisions. Not sure if the attribution is accurate, but this method is typically very helpful!

Get a sheet a paper, halve it with a line and write all of the "pros" on one side, and the "cons" on the other.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Was he preaching morality? Or was he simply writing down some rules to live by...possibly for his OWN use, and 200 years later, people decided to pull them out and wave them around on the web as a Moral Code??

Geeze, if everytime someone writes down things that need to change in their lives, and that then becomes "moral preaching", we'd all be screwed.

Excellent point, Mike!

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

While I agree with the 13 points, Ben Franklin is probably not a person to take advice from especially on matters of chastity and moderation. He was a womanizing drinker who constantly had at least one mistress and refused to support or even acknowledge his illegitimate children. His writings in poor Richard's Almanac are not consistent with his lifestyle. Had he lived in modern times he'd be a great democrat. He was definitely a "dandy".

Much like Jerry lewis, franklin was more popular in France than he was in the US.
In fact when the American revolution began he bid a hasty retreat to France.
Some historians suggest his purpose was to try and convince the French to join us and fight the British, while others say that was an excuse to flee the conflict.
Was he the first draft dodger? We'll never know, but his reported efforts to get the French to help nearly failed. Only after the British were cornered and the war was nearly over did they show up.

There are many founding fathers who deserve admiration more than Franklin, Men like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison who are almost single-handedly responsible for writing our constitution and designing the greatest system of government ever conceived.

Dayum! I actually agree with sammy on something.

[RPKESQ]

The French were involved long before the British were cornered. That bit is just wrong.