Summary of Franklin's Autobiography

What does moral perfection mean to you? Have you ever achieved moral perfection? Benjamin Franklin has achieved moral perfection, and he talks about it in his autobiography. Franklin talks about how difficult it was for him to achieve moral perfection.

To become morally perfect Franklin had to develop all thirteen virtues throughout his everyday life. Instead of trying to achieve all thirteen virtues at the same time, he focused on trying to achieve one virtue per day. When he perfected one virtue he would then move on to another virtue. To make it easier on him, he kept a book in which he made pages for each virtue, that way he could keep up with which virtue he achieved each day.

During his experience, Franklin learned that he did not make as many mistakes and that he hardly violated the virtues. The virtues are very important because Franklin talked about them throughout his autobiography. Even though we make mistakes as human beings we must learn from our mistakes to be a better person and so that we won’t make them again. If we make a mistake we must realize that their will be a consequence. Since the virtues are the main points in Franklin’s Autobiography, I am going to list the 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 employed 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 extremes; forebear resenting resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."

10.  Cleanliness- "Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation."

11. Tranquility- "Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."

12. Chastity- "Rarely use Venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation."

13. Humility- "Imitate Jesus and Socrates."