The Attributes of Big Ben . . . No, Not That One . . .

Benjamin Franklin shouldn’t need much of an introduction. Inventor, statesman, writer, publisher, economist, and one of the architects of our United States Constitution, Ben was one of our greatest Americans. His presence on our $100 bill is well justified.

Franklin related in his autobiography that he decided early in life to focus on arriving at moral perfection. I wouldn’t doubt that he soon discovered this was more easily said than done. Nonetheless, he fashioned a list of 13 virtues, assigning a page to each. Under each virtue he wrote a summary to gave it fuller meaning. He then practiced each for a certain amount of time.

In an ongoing effort to form each of virtues into a habit, Franklin graded himself on his daily actions, drawing a table with a row for every virtue and a column for every day of the week. For each error, he made a mark in the appropriate column. With each passing week, Franklin focused his attention on a different virtue, hoping that, through repetition over time, he would one day experience the pleasure of "viewing a clean Book."

Franklin conducted this experiment over a period of years. To do the work thoroughly, he decided to attempt each virtue and a quarter of its importance - one at a time. He began with temperance, which included the moderating of any pleasure or tendency to develop undesirable habits because temperance "tends to procure that coolness and clearance and head that is so necessary where constant vigilance is to be kept up and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits and the force of perpetual temptations."

Other virtues Franklin practiced were silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, Justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity and humility. It makes me wonder, in fact–since he was an extremely well studied man–whether he had studied the Apostle Paul who had his own list of virtues (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control).

Franklin added his attributes to a regimen he followed each day. From 5:00 to 7:00 each morning he spent in getting his exercise, saying a short prayer, thinking over the day’s business and resolutions, studying, and eating breakfast. From 8:00 to 12:00 he worked at his trade. 12:00 to 2:00 included his lunch period, and then he read and looked over his accounts. From 2:00 to 5:00 he worked at his trade. Then the rest of the evening he spent in music or diversion of some sort. Before his regular 10:00 bed time, Franklin set aside a little time to set things in place and examine his day.

At the age of 79, Franklin cited temperance; the acquisition of misfortune to industry and frugality; the confidence of his country to sincerity; and justice as reasons for his health and alertness. His extraordinary success in life and politics were the results of his perseverance in overcoming his personal liabilities, and his faithful, ongoing quest to become better.

In many ways, Ben Franklin serves as a role model for us today. If we really want to achieve something in our own lives, we should take time to focus on our own personal journals. What temptations and personal obstacles are standing in our way to greatness? What can we do to form the habit of becoming a success?

This would be a worthy thing to ponder, wouldn’t it?