Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues

Flamebright.com has printed a story about a daily checklist Benjamin Franklin kept on how well he lived daily by the following 13 virtues:

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness and 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 injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. 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.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

The 13 virtues were supposedly inspired by Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Other notable lists of virtues or qualities for Christians include the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10, the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, the Christian graces in 2 Peter 1:5-11, the qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, and the qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.

Benjamin Franklin Christian History Philippians 4:8 U.S. Founding Fathers
Virtues Christian Christianity