5 ms·

Pretty sure Franklin's effort to cultivate these virtues in himself lasted like a couple weeks. These articles never mention that.

l8rlump 8y ago
Reference?
- projectileboy 8y ago
  His autobiography.
  - branweb 8y ago
    Yeah I think this part is what I was remembering: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page41.htm http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page41.htm Where he says: * I spent all this time making this spreadsheet to record all my moral failings * The plan was to focus on 1 virtue a week, over and over, til I had no marks on my spreadsheet * But I basically just did it once the first year, then once over the next few years then said screw it. Then he concludes that the whole scheme might've been "moral foppery" (lol) and "that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance". Just thought it was funny. And also counter to all these "be your best self/be more productive/get blood transfusions" self-helpy blogposts.
technologyvault 8y ago
It's interesting that there are so many people accuse Benjamin Franklin of being a man who lacked moral values, but the evidence they provide doesn't really seem to support their conclusions about the man.
- branweb 8y ago
  I know my comment was ambiguous, but I didn't mean it as a slam on Ben Franklin. It makes me like him more. Most relatable founding father ever.
  - technologyvault 8y ago
    He did admit in his writings that living up to those virtues, especially humility, was very difficult for him, as it would be for any of us.
louprado 8y ago
It is hard to imagine one could become so prominent, accomplished, and well respected without having good habits and virtues. It would be odd he would share virtues that were not attributable to his personal success.

l8rlump 8y ago

Reference?

projectileboy 8y ago
His autobiography.
- branweb 8y ago
  Yeah I think this part is what I was remembering: http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page41.htm http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/autobiography/page41.htm Where he says: * I spent all this time making this spreadsheet to record all my moral failings * The plan was to focus on 1 virtue a week, over and over, til I had no marks on my spreadsheet * But I basically just did it once the first year, then once over the next few years then said screw it. Then he concludes that the whole scheme might've been "moral foppery" (lol) and "that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance". Just thought it was funny. And also counter to all these "be your best self/be more productive/get blood transfusions" self-helpy blogposts.

technologyvault 8y ago

It's interesting that there are so many people accuse Benjamin Franklin of being a man who lacked moral values, but the evidence they provide doesn't really seem to support their conclusions about the man.

branweb 8y ago
I know my comment was ambiguous, but I didn't mean it as a slam on Ben Franklin. It makes me like him more. Most relatable founding father ever.
- technologyvault 8y ago
  He did admit in his writings that living up to those virtues, especially humility, was very difficult for him, as it would be for any of us.

louprado 8y ago

It is hard to imagine one could become so prominent, accomplished, and well respected without having good habits and virtues. It would be odd he would share virtues that were not attributable to his personal success.