#5 In the my ongoing series of Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues. I wonder how this virtue would handle all the distractions and abilities to make spontaneous purchases that there are today. I dont’t think he Mr. Franklin would like them very much. Either that, or he would be working for Apple or Google.
The fourth installment in my very very long series of Ben Franklin’s 13 Virtues.
Again, this is in reference to the 13 Virtues Ben Franklin came up with at the age of 20 to help cultivate his character. I thought I would demonstrate Ben Franklin’s “Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve” in his resolve to dance.
I had fun playing with different Ben Franklin characters and crazy moves.
Here is Virtue #3 in my slow but on going quest to do a cartoon for 13 Virtues on Ben Franklin.
3 – “Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
The idea of the drawing was to show that everything had its place and that following this rule can actually make you more relaxed and able to concentrate and enjoy what you are doing in the present moment.
As a reminder, here are all 13. Goods words to live by:
Here is my cartoon for#2 of Ben Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues::
2. “Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
Not sure how this one reads entirely. Also playing with the style a little. 11 more to go!
Happy 4th of July.
In honor of this day I wanted to do a cartoon with some of our Founding Fathers but ultimately settled on the doing a cartoon for all 13 of of Ben Franklin’s personal Thirteen Virtues. All are listed below.
Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of 13 virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his 13 virtues as they are below. It is amazing a 20 year old had the maturity and conscience of mind to create the list and know it was something to strive towards. All of us would be better served and happier in life if we followed these in my opinion.
Today is Virtue #1 – “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” More to follow.
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 extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
10) “Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, 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.”
Franklin did not try to work on them all at once. Instead, he would work on one and only one each week “leaving all others to their ordinary chance”. While Franklin did not live completely by his virtues and by his own admission, he fell short of them many times, he believed the attempt made him a better man contributing greatly to his success and happiness, which is why in his autobiography, he devoted more pages to this plan than to any other single point; in his autobiography Franklin wrote, “I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.”
