Ben Franklin was a prolific writer that wrote an autobiography on his pain to achieve moral perfection. He wrote this because he believes that if he follows these 13 steps that he made up flawlessly, he will be on a route to becoming a perfect man. One of the steps was justice which means omitting the benefits that are on duty. The other is silence which basically means to speak only to benefit one another for help, meaning don’t speak just to talk. Benjamin Franklin was an intelligent man and people could look at him and tell. He wrote an autobiography following the 13 steps that made up to be a perfect man. Everytime he messed up up on a rule, he would put a dot on the chart to show what he had messed up on. He titled this ‘Temperance” with
Ben Franklin became famous for being a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, a printer, a philosopher, and a librarian. Today, we honor Ben Franklin as one of the men who founded America and as one of America's greatest citizens.
It is easy to see Benjamin Franklin was no doubt an archetypal American. No one since him has ever had the same amount of success as him. He was a private businessman who made enough money to retire early and to spend the rest of his life in politics. Around this time period only the rich were able to retire early. He was industrious. Franklin continually put forth the idea of the industrious American. He had support from the middle-class who did not care if he was rich but he was a man who was self-made and worked hard. This American attitude was formed early and most of it by him. Franklin was also not judgmental came to decisions and conclusions as a businessman and politician. However, his attitude was non-judgmental with respect to a
In addition, Benjamin was a hardworking man. There were thirteen names of virtues that he considered. These virtues show how Benjamin Franklin was a hardworking man. Some of them are temperance, frugality, and industry. “Temperance means eat not to dullness and drink not to elevation” (pg.95). This quote shows that Benjamin Franklin was a hardworking man because he never got drunk
Benjamin Franklin came up with the idea to make his life better by trying to be perfect in every way. This can otherwise be known as trying to reach a state of moral perfection, in which one could find themselves being happy with the life they live, and also living a pure, sinless life. It has come to be questioned if attempting to achieve moral perfection is a worthwhile goal. In the end of his experiment he ended up not being able to reach or achieve his goal but learned a very crucial, very valuable lesson. He discovered throughout the recesses of his journey that achieving his goal would be found to be impossible, but in turn he learned that many of the virtues are good to try and maintain during everyday activities and through life
Benjamin Franklin notably contributed to the period of religious revival known as the Great Awakening. Being a printer, he was well acquainted with the texts of different religious sects, because much of the material printed at the time were Bible texts. Franklin represents a quintessential ideal of how to achieve success through education. His pursuit of perfection was driven by the values instilled in him by his Puritan father as
Franklin also gave many examples to the reader of his autobiography to practice diligence in minding the company they keep and gave much advice about keeping away from questionable establishments and having nothing to do with scoundrels. He made points to make friendships with people that were of good reputation, men who as himself had interest in education and industry and in his youth many older men whose advice he regarded before many life altering
Perfection? Can any one person be perfect? Benjamin Franklin believed that he could accomplish this task. Benjamin Franklin was known for being a cognizant and diligent perfectionist. During his lifetime, many people were concerned with correcting themselves of any fault that they may have had. Benjamin Franklin did have an interesting way to proclaim how he, could show everyone how to be perfect. He believes that he can make himself perfect. Even though his ways of being perfect are not the same as everyone else's ideas, he still tries to show them he can be perfect. In his essay "Arriving at Perfection" Benjamin Franklin tries to tell everyone how he will be perfect and how he is going to actually accomplish this task.
The affliction of vanity appears regularly throughout both pieces of work by Franklin and Woolman. The two men seem to be hampered by this vice of pride and wishing to possess humility. Benjamin Franklin addresses this burden of appearing vain as an issue and aims to improve himself with his constituted principles. He lists “Humility” as his last virtue he aspires to develop so as to “Imitate Jesus and Socrates” (Franklin, 79). How ironic of Franklin to want to be humble, yet strive for moral perfection! Franklin so much as prides himself on this list of virtues that heavily influences his life. However, he accordingly considers pride to be one of the most difficult to overcome considering one can “disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself...” (Franklin,
During the Neo-Classic period there was a belief in the possibility of human perfection. Human perfection is the state of completeness and flawlessness. Benjamin Franklin was a believer of human perfection in this period of time. He attempted to become perfect by listing character traits that contributed to perfectibility and also made a schedule of his day.
Brands, H.W.. The first American: the life and times of Benjamin Franklin. New York: Doubleday,
Benjamin Franklin believed in developing an America that respected all religions and thought the best of each and every other one. He believed that a
Benjamin Franklin wrote the famous quote “If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” When Ben wrote this quote he was trying to teach the world a valuable lesson. Just as others have tried before and after him. Benjamin Franklin was a man of many wonders. He wrote quotes, books, and autobiographies. Benjamin discovered electricity and was one of the founding fathers of our nation. He was a well known, knowledgeable man with a lot of respect.
Benjamin Franklin is considered to be an immense example of a self-made man. Although many before him were unquestionably successful, Franklin was able to prevail from nothing to something greater; America’s Genius. That is why he is a self-made man. He was a man who invested in himself in order to become a great man. He had to grow rather quickly to survive in poverty. In result, his curious nature and determination caused him to be successful in many things. In result, Franklin was a man of many careers. He was a printer, writer, inventor, scientist, and a civil servant. The young man made no room for failure; he did not condone his situation as a child to stop him from approving his mind, body, and soul.
Benjamin Franklin is a famous figure in American history. He was an author, statesman, diplomat , scientist, and also an inventor. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on 17 January 1706. His father Josiah Franklin was a soap maker and candle maker who had seventeen children with his two wives.
Benjamin said “This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study” which at this time was not the “norm”. I believe that Benjamin wanted Americans to become more than drunkards and illiterates. Benjamin wanted Americans to think rationally and be able to grow as a nation. Unlike the culture during that time period in which a person’s value was based on their station in life, Benjamin Franklin lived his life in the pursuit of knowledge. He believed through hard work and study one could rise to any station, even before Kings.