Music Banter - View Single Post - Today I Learned...
View Single Post
Old 08-30-2018, 01:26 PM   #85 (permalink)
timihaze
Groupie
 
timihaze's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: there and back again
Posts: 36
Default

TIL Benjamin Franklin attempted to achieve perfect morality, failed, but in failure found catharsis toward the human condition.

"My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg'd it would be well not to distract
my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should
be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro' the thirteen; and,
as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang'd them
with that view, as they stand above.

These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:
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."

Original Source: Benjamin Franklin, "Autobiography." In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, The Journal of
John Woolman, the Fruits of Solitude William Penn. Ed. Charles W. Eliot. (New York: P. F. Collier and Son, 1909).
__________________
I love to sing-a about the moon-a and the June-a and the spring-a
timihaze is offline   Reply With Quote