Journal 6

From Ben Franklin’s The Autobiography (p. 80 – 83)

Write a well-developed paragraph in response to the following questions.

1. Explain what was involved in Franklin’s plan for self-perfection? What conclusion did Franklin come to regarding the effectiveness of this plan?

Franklin involved thirteen virtues to try and perfect himself. These virtues were temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. At first, Franklin thought this was a great plan that would help him greatly in the long run. In the beginning, he was right, and then he realized that being completely perfect is not the way to go. To have friends instead of frenemies one has to have some imperfections about themselves that they are happy with, like the axe making blacksmith that liked the speckled look in the axe.

2. Do you feel that a plan such as Franklin’s would improve you as a person? Why or why not? What would be your top five virtues?

I think that yes, it would help, but one has to be happy with their imperfections at the moment. But I think that we should do little bits of each virtue everyday instead of practicing one a week. Chastity, eloquence, defiance, forbearance, and tact.