Franklin Essay - 1455 Words

Can some man arrive at moral perfection in this life, or is it impossible? Benjamin Franklin was an extremely brilliant and talented individual. He constantly sought ways to improve himself. After he read â€Å"The Spectator† he put in a very dedicated effort to imitate their style of writing because he loved how precise the authors wrote out their thoughts. Franklin was also a relatively religious man or at least believed enough to try to be a morally righteous man so that he would avoid his way into hell. Through these beliefs and virtues Franklin created a plan to achieve moral perfection. Although finding the task somewhat more difficult than he first imagined he stayed with his convictions and deduced thirteen virtues to improve upon and†¦show more content†¦Temperance, for example, was by some confin’d to eating and drinking, while by others it was extended to mean the moderating every other pleasure, appetite, inclination or passion, bodily or mental, ev en to our avarice and ambition.† (BF, p67). This was the problem that Franklin came across in his studies on virtues. This problem also eventually lead him to create a list of what he deemed were the most important virtues that man should strive to improve upon in life to reach moral perfection. The list was much shorter and more specific than anything he read in his studies. The list goes as follows: Temperance (eat not to dullness. Drink not to elation), Silence (speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation), Order (let all your things have their places. Let each part or your business have its time), Resolution (resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve), Frugality (make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, waste nothing), Industry (lose no time, be always employed in something useful, cut off all unnecessary actions), Sincerity (use no hurtful deceit, think innocently and justly; and, if you speak; speak accordingly), Justice (wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that your duty), Moderation (avoid extremes, forbear resenting injuries so much as you think the deserve), Cleanliness (tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation), Tranquility (be notShow MoreRelatedThe Benjamin Franklin1357 Words   |  5 PagesBenjamin Franklin In our American history many figures have left their mark, and are remembered still today. Benjamin Franklin was as famous as any president, but yet never elected to public office. He was one of the nation’s revolutionary founding fathers of all time. Benjamin Franklin was a respected hero of America of many talents and accomplishments. First of all, Benjamin Franklin was born at Boston in 1706. He was the tenth sibling in the family. He was the son of a soap and candle maker.Read More Ben Franklin Essay1642 Words   |  7 PagesBen Franklin Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential people in American history. Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in a small town in Boston. Benjamin was one of ten children. His father, Josiah was a candle and soap maker, and his mother Abiah Folger was a homemaker. When Benjamin was only twelve years old he signed his identures so that he could apprentice under his brother, working at a printing press. Here he worked for his brother James for over nine years. BenjaminRead MoreThe Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin1367 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Matheny HIST 2020 A.P. Tammy Prater 23 November 2014 Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a detailed account of the illustrious experiences of Benjamin Franklin. Though the cultural differences in writing has changed since the 18th century one can learn a lot about one of America’s greatest forefathers through this book. It accounts for Franklin’s life when he was born January 17th, 1706 till the year 1757. Unfortunately, he died in 1790 and was never able to finishRead MoreFranklin And The American Dream Essay1486 Words   |  6 PagesAs many historians who have studied the life of Benjamin Franklin would say, he was the man who invented the American Dream. His unfinished autobiography, written in the late 1700’s, is a perfect insight into the society he was developing in and his passion to benefit his community. His worth ethic and determination led to his many accomplishments that helped shape the New World. Franklin’s involvement in community projects in Philadelphia was very important to him and reflected his idea of the virtuousRead MoreBenjamin Franklin Essay1518 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Susanna Dey 19 November 2011 Benjamin Franklin Say the name Benjamin Franklin and you may picture a chubby man with spectacles holding a kite during a lightening storm. Perhaps you picture him a older man with spectacles propped up on his nose standing in a great room full of distinguished gentlemen signing the Declaration of Independence. Both of these facts about Benjamin Franklins life would be true. However, there was so much more to Mr. Franklin. He was a diplomat, a statesman, a scientistRead More Benjamin Franklin Essay1954 Words   |  8 Pages Benjamin Franklin-Scientist and Inventor Benjamin Franklin has influenced American technology, and indirectly, lifestyles by using his proficiencies and intelligence to conduct numerous experiments, arrive at theories, and produce several inventions. Franklins scientific and analytical mind enabled him to generate many long lasting achievements which contributed to the development and refinement of modern technology. Few national heroes, including George Washington and ThomasRead More Benjamin Franklin Essay990 Words   |  4 Pages Benjamin Franklin nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Benjamin Franklin was a remarkably talented man. He started his career as a simple printer apprentice, but went far beyond the printers shop. He developed products that were far beyond the time. The Franklin stove for example, for cold winter nights and bifocal lenses for reading. Franklin tracked storm paths to help understand the wicked weather endured by the colonies. His study of electricity made him most famous for he was known around the worldRead MoreEssay on ben franklin635 Words   |  3 Pages Ben Franklin 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 Americas greatest citizens. Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Though Ben only had one year of schooling he was educated and loved to read and write. He worked as an apprentice to his brother, James, who wasRead MoreThe Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin529 Words   |  3 PagesThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin has many things, but maybe more than anything else about Benjamin Franklin it explains about him being a politician, and there is no more reason to look out for an unbiased autobiography from Franklin than from any other politician. This Franklin is a persona, a conscious literary creation bestowed for our contention One of Franklin’s virtues is humbleness, and his humbleness comes out in the form of his book. His narrative is extremelyRead MoreThe Birth Of Benjamin Franklin1014 Words   |  5 PagesIn January of 1706 the future of America was changed forever with the birth of Benjamin Franklin. Born in Boston, Massachusetts Ben was the son of Josiah Franklin and Abiah Folger, Ben was the youngest son of 17 children. Josiah was a soap maker and he wanted Benjamin to enter the clergy. Ben went to South Grammar School where he excelled, he even skipped a grade. Unfortunately with such a large family, Josiah was unable to afford the education that it took to become a clergyman. Ben only had the