There is hardly a person who does not know Benjamin Franklin - writer and public figure, scientist and inventor, politician and diplomat.
His name is inextricably linked with the history of the United States, where he was born and did a lot for the development of freedom of speech, enlightenment and education, self-government and the formation of statehood.
For his services to the country, his portrait, along with the Presidents of the United States, is placed on the 100-dollar banknote of the US Federal Reserve.
Franklin achieved a lot in his 84 years through hard work and frugality, as well as rational rules of daily behavior.
Once formulated, Benjamin sought to adhere to these principles throughout his life.
1. Abstinence: eat not to the point of satiety; Don't drink to the point of intoxication.
2. Silence: say only what will be useful to other people or yourself; avoid empty talk.
3. Order: every thing has its place; Every task has its time.
4. Determination: have the determination to do what must be done; do what is decided without delay.
5. Thrift: Spend money only to benefit others or yourself (i.e. not waste).
6. Hard work: do not waste time; always do something useful; get rid of unnecessary things.
7. Sincerity: do not resort to offensive lies; keep your thoughts clearand fair, treat words the same way.
8. Justice: do not do harm to anyone, do not allow injustice and do not neglect good deeds that are among your duties.
9. Moderation: avoid extremes; contain feelings of resentment as much as possible.
10. Purity: Avoid uncleanness of body, clothing or home.
11. Calm: Don't worry about trifles or ordinary or inevitable events.
12. Chastity: indulge in love only to maintain health and procreate, never do this out of boredom, weakness, or to the detriment of oneself or the well-being and reputation of another.
Franklin had a plan to achieve moral perfection in 13 weeks.
Every week he improved compliance with one of the principles, and noted violations of the rest in a special table.
The main task was to develop and consolidategood habit repeated over and over again.
After repeating this cycle several times in a row, Franklin then carried it out once a year, and then every few years.
Benjamin Franklin was a publisher and an excellent writer, and his witty expressions enriched the English language and became part of world culture.
You need to eat to live, not live to eat
A fool is he who makes a doctor his heir
There are more old drunks in the world than old doctors.
A genius without education is like silver in a mine
He who goes to bed with dogs gets up with fleas
Where there is marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.
Look for strengths in others and weaknesses in yourself.
Love your enemies because they will tell you about your shortcomings
You are as guilty of your shortcomings as your irritation from reproaches for them is.
God helps those who help themselves
Diligence is the mother of luck
There are no acquisitions without effort
He who multiplies wealth, multiplies care
He who lives in hope risks dying of hunger
Necessity never leads to bargains
If you rush, you will waste your time. Hurry, take your time
There have never been good knives made from bad steel.
There is a time to close your eyes, there is a time to see
The greatest nonsense consists of too cleverly twisted wisdom
His book “The Path to Prosperity,” with advice on how to get rich, has gone through 1,300 (!) editions.
And we still use the lightning rod he invented, which saved many houses from fires as a result of lightning strikes.
The life of Benjamin Franklin deserves close attention and careful study.
You can learn something by reading the “Autobiography” he personally wrote, about which Dale Carnegie once said:
“If you want excellent advice on how to deal with people, manage yourself, and improve your personal qualities, read the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin - one of the most fascinating life stories ».
A detailed analysis of Franklin's personality was made by a talented American writer Walter Isaacson - author of biographies of Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Henry Kissinger.
His book " Benjamin Franklin. Biography " , recently translated into Russian, is based on numerous primary sources: Franklin’s personal archive, newspapers, magazines and books he published, as well as letters from relatives and people he knew.
Thanks to this, the development and self-improvement of Benjamin Franklin's personality can be traced from his earliest years to his last days.
And after reading the book, draw the right conclusions and apply them to your own life.
Enjoy reading!
Benjamin Franklin was born in 1706 into a family of modest means. He started working at the age of 12. Over time, Franklin became a successful printer, writer, scientist, politician and diplomat. He attributed much of his success to working on 13 virtues that kept him prepared for any eventuality.
Virtue cards will help you develop and track your progress
For most of his life, Franklin carried virtue cards with him. Each had a table of 7 columns and 13 rows. The columns are the days of the week and the rows are the virtues.
He pulled out the card several times throughout the day to remind himself of his intentions. And in the evening I looked through all the virtues and noted those that I worked on today.
The goal is to mark as many cells as possible.
The new week began with a new card. Moreover, they were not all the same: Benjamin used 13 variations, and on each card one of the virtues was indicated on top with a brief description. This meant that she needed to be focused on this week.
At the end of the week, he assessed which virtues had developed and which had not. I thought about what areas of my life I needed to focus my efforts on. He also produced something like a quarterly report every 13 weeks, when one cycle of cards was completed. This helped him notice patterns in behavior.
Over time, these virtues became part of his character. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Franklin's 13 Virtues
1. Temperance
Eat only to satisfy your hunger. Don't overeat just for fun or out of greed. Stop drinking when you notice that alcohol is distorting your perceptions. Watch what goes into your body.
2. Silence
If you can't add anything worthwhile to the conversation, remain silent. Listen more to your interlocutors. Avoid idle chatter. Don't speak just to fill a pause. This does not mean that you need to completely avoid people and... Just remember that such conversations have a clear purpose - for example, to get to know the other person better.
3. Love of order
Keep your things organized so you can easily find them. When there are too many things, it's hard to keep track of them. This is a signal that it's time for you.
Do the same with time. Then you will always have time to do what is important to you.
4. Determination
If you decide to do something, follow through. Don't promise something you can't or don't even intend to deliver. Refuse if you are asked to do something that you cannot do.
5. Thrift
Don't waste your money. Every ruble should go towards some purpose. Try to get the maximum benefit for the amount spent.
The point is to develop a system of specific virtues or skills that will help you become a better person. And then monitor your progress daily.
Over time, these qualities will become a natural part of you. The main thing is to practice daily. Print out cards with a list of virtues or keep them on your smartphone. Look at the card every morning to remind yourself what to work on today. In the evening, celebrate what you have done. And at the end of the week, evaluate your overall progress.
Just don't expect instant results. Self-development takes time. Follow this system day after day and you will notice that your life gets better.
Benjamin Franklin he was an ordinary person, like most, debts were an integral part of his life, BUT, like a few of those who are not going to live their entire lives as he had to live then, he believed that he would be able to achieve success if he found his right method.
His natural abilities and sharp mind helped him find a method so simple and practical that anyone who wants to change their life for the better can use it.
Franklin formulated for himself 13 commandments, which he considered necessary to become a master of his craft.
Each week he focused his attention on just one commandment, which came in order on his list.
For thirteen weeks in a row, he worked meticulously on his list, and then he repeated this process 4 more times in a year. (I will write his personal list, but you will have to make your own list of what you need to change in your life!)
In his autobiography, the 79-year-old Benjamin Franklin devotes more pages to this topic on his list than to any other events in his life!
He believed that it was this idea that helped him achieve success and make him a happy person.
Franklin ends the book with the words: “I will be glad if my example will help my followers to live happy lives.”
Tell me if such a genius is like Benjamin Franklin, who has the reputation of being one of the wisest and most practical people in the world, is proud of his idea as the most important thing that he managed to accomplish in his entire life, why can’t I follow his example? Why don't you do the same?!
This is the experience of a Successful Person, which is now being passed on to you like the most valuable grain! Use it correctly, that is, constantly until you achieve your goal!
Someone too smart, who graduated from three higher educational institutions, will think that this is too easy for him?!
Or perhaps someone who barely even finished school and is unable to study further will think that this is too difficult and impossible for him?!
Did you know that Franklin only had two years of education?
And yet, every person on the planet has heard this great name Franklin!
Therefore, think three times before giving up such luck..
Yes, it is not so simple, it is not an easy path, but it is the most reliable..
So here are Franklin's Thirteen Commandments
1. Abstinence in everything: food and drink.
2. Silence is golden. Say only what will benefit you or others, avoid empty chatter.
3. Order: everything has its time and place, every thing must have its place, every duty at work is completed in due time.
4. Determination: do what you have to do without hesitation; if you decide to take action, go to the end.
5. Thrift: spending should benefit you or others, do not throw money away.
6. Hard work: do not waste time, constantly do the necessary things, stop useless activities.
7. Sincerity: do not resort to deception, your thoughts should be pure and fair and the same should be your speech.
8. Justice: do not offend anyone by causing evil or not eating good, this is your duty.
9. Moderation: do not go to extremes, try to patiently endure insults.
10. Cleanliness: be intolerant of uncleanliness of body, clothing and home.
11. Calmness: do not get upset over trifles or annoying accidents - they are inevitable.
12. Chastity: do not indulge in voluptuousness often, only for health or procreation, and never out of boredom, weakness, or to the detriment of yourself or the well-being and tranquility of another.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Make your list of bad habits that need to be changed to make your life better and follow the recommendations described above!
This will really benefit both you and your surroundings!
Benjamin Franklin is a very famous historical figure in American history. He was born in 1706 into a very large family and was the fifteenth of seventeen children. Accordingly, they lived poorly and he could not attend school until he was ten years old. He went to work in a printing house. Despite all the difficulties of life, he became an outstanding person both of his time and for history.
As Benjamin Franklin himself writes, in 1728 he conceived for himself a bold and difficult plan of moral perfection. Having chosen for this from the thirteen virtues known to him the most important in his opinion. Here are the names of these virtues with the corresponding instructions:
"Abstinence.– Do not eat to the point of satiety, do not drink to the point of intoxication.
Silence.– Say only what can benefit me or another; avoid empty talk.
Order.– Keep all your belongings in place; Each lesson has its own time.
Determination.– Decide to do what needs to be done; strictly carry out what is decided.
Thrift.– Spend money only on what benefits me or others, that is, do not waste anything.
Hard work.– Don’t waste time; to be always busy with something useful, to refuse all unnecessary actions.
Sincerity.– Do not cause harmful deception, have pure and fair thoughts; also adhere to this rule in conversation.
Justice.– Do not harm anyone, do not commit injustice and do not omit the good deeds that are among your duties.
Moderation.– Avoid extremes; restrain, as far as you consider it appropriate, feelings of resentment from injustice.
Purity.– Avoid bodily uncleanliness; Maintain neatness in clothing and home.
Calm.– Don’t worry about trifles and about ordinary or unavoidable events.
Chastity.– Indulge in lovemaking not often, only for the sake of health or procreation, never do this to the point of dullness, exhaustion, or to the detriment of your own or someone else’s reputation.
Many people die at 25 and only reach the grave at 75.
Benjamin Franklin
Almost all of us have heard something about the famous politician, scientist and inventor Benjamin Franklin.
To better illustrate his invaluable contribution to history, let us turn to his achievements. Benjamin Franklin:
- Invented a lightning rod;
- Invented bifocal glasses;
- Invented the Franklin stove;
- Made many outstanding discoveries in the field of electricity;
- Created the first detailed map of the Gulf Stream;
- Founded the first public library in the United States;
- Founded the Philadelphia Academy;
- Participated in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution;
- And at the same time he was actively involved in publishing activities.
Impressive list of achievements, isn't it?
By now you're probably asking yourself, how could one person achieve so much? It's all about the right attitude. Benjamin Franklin knew the importance of discipline, and he succeeded in many ways because of it.
He proved by his example that a person is capable of independently developing habits that will help him achieve significant success. When reading about his life, a quote from the legendary thinker comes to mind:
We are what we do all the time. Perfection, therefore, is not an action, but a habit.
Aristotle
Here are some of the most valuable lessons we can learn from the life of Benjamin Franklin. They will be useful to each of us.
1. Time is the scarcest resource
Lost time is never found again.
Benjamin Franklin understood very well how important time is. We all have different skills, talents and capabilities. But we also all have the same amount of time - 24 hours in a day. What matters is not how much time we have, but how effectively we allocate it. Time is our most scarce resource, and we must learn to use it wisely.
Do you love life? Then don't waste time; for time is the fabric of which life is made.
Benjamin Franklin
When people realize that they have little time, they begin to value it and spend it rationally - to achieve the most important goals.
Realizing that time is really short is a good start. Coming up with a way to effectively use your time is another matter. Franklin understood this well. So he developed a system that helped him use his time most efficiently.
2. Thirteen virtues
Benjamin Franklin always thought about what kind of person he wanted to become. Eventually, he was able to formulate a clear goal: he wanted to become “moral perfection.” This idea came to Benjamin at the age of 20. In order to achieve his goal, he created a list of 13 virtues.
- Temperance. Eat not to the point of satiety, drink not to the point of intoxication.
- Silence. Speak only what can benefit you or others; avoid empty talk.
- Love of order. Let each of your things have its own place; Let there be time for every task you do.
- Determination. Decide to do what you must; and carry out what you decide unswervingly.
- Thrift. Allow yourself only those expenses that will benefit others or yourself; don't waste anything.
- Hard work. Don't waste time; always be busy with something useful; cancel all unnecessary activities.
- Sincerity. Do not resort to harmful deception: let your thoughts be innocent and fair; and if you speak, then let the words be the same.
- Justice. Never offend people by causing them harm or not doing good, as your duty dictates.
- Moderation. Avoid extremes; Don’t hold a grudge for the harm done to you, even if you think it deserves it.
- Cleanliness. Do not allow the slightest dirt on yourself, in your clothes, or in your home.
- Calm. Don't worry about trifles, about minor or inevitable incidents.
- Chastity. Indulge in lust rarely, only for health or to prolong the family line; do not allow it to lead to dullness or weakness, or to deprive you of peace of mind or cast a shadow on your or anyone else’s good name.
- Meekness. Follow the example of Jesus and Socrates.
Impressive list of virtues, isn't it? But Franklin didn't stop there.
He developed a system that helped him make these virtues part of his daily life. It was based on a 13-week plan that helped him stay focused on what was important right now.
Since Franklin's main goal was to make these virtues habitual, he decided to devote one week to each of them. And only after this time has passed, move on to the next virtue.
The daily struggle is to stay focused on what really matters.
Like many of us, Benjamin Franklin had great difficulty concentrating.
This is actually difficult, especially when before going to bed we fall asleep with the thought that tomorrow we will have to complete many tasks that will distract us from the main goal. Neither did the pressure from other people and our own conflicting priorities cancel out.
To stay focused, Benjamin Franklin kept a notebook of 13 pages, one for each virtue. He lined each page so that there were seven columns (seven days of the week). Then he drew 13 horizontal lines (13 virtues) .
Temperance. Eat not to the point of satiety, drink not to the point of intoxication.
Franklin knew that he could not master all 13 virtues at once. As mentioned above, he decided to devote one week to each of them. Franklin believed that if he focused on one virtue, it would quickly become a habit. After that, he planned to move on to another virtue, the next week to the next, and so on until he had mastered them all.
During the first week, Franklin's main focus was on one virtue; other virtues were left to chance; he only marked every evening with a black circle the mistakes made during the day.
There are three things that are extremely difficult to do: break steel, crush diamond and know yourself.
Benjamin Franklin
This way, he could work on himself, improve himself and make fewer and fewer mistakes every day, becoming better every year.
3. Plan your every day
Franklin knew how important it was to do the right thing at the right time. To succeed in this, he always planned his day clearly.
Having a daily schedule gave him structure in everything he did, allowing him to focus on what was truly important.
Let all things be in their place; let every task have its time.
Benjamin Franklin
Below is an example of Benjamin Franklin's schedule ↓
Benjamin Franklin's Daily Schedule If you plan every day, you can focus on what really matters to you. And do the right things at the right time.
Such a schedule will help you plan your entire day: you will be sure that you will not forget anything and will have time to do everything.
Benjamin included everything that was important to him in his schedule. When you prepare your own schedule, remember that you need to include not only work, but also your personal affairs.
4. Wake up early
Every minute you spend organizing your activities saves you an entire hour.
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin knew how important it was to be an organized person.
It's no secret that if we come to work and don't structure all the tasks that face us, we will quickly get bogged down in the numerous little things that fall on us every day.
We will be nervous and rush between different tasks, not knowing what to give preference to. Being in this mode every day, we get lost, forget about it, and, as a result, do not do what we need. If we don't do anything to get rid of our disorganization, we will soon be overwhelmed by days, weeks, months and even years without progress.
Anyone who gets up late has to run all day long in order to barely complete all their work by nightfall.
Benjamin Franklin
Franklin got up every day at 5 a.m. to set his plans for the day. Every morning he asked himself the same question: “ What should I do today?«.
He woke up, had breakfast, planned his day, and by 8 am he was ready to get down to business.
This was his morning habit. In many ways, perhaps routine. But it was very important because it allowed him to focus on the main goal.
Thanks to this habit, Franklin had a 3-hour head start on the others. What you do from the moment you wake up to the moment you start working matters a lot. The outcome of your entire day may depend on it.
5. What good have I done this day?
Early to bed and early to rise is what makes a person healthy, rich and smart.
Benjamin Franklin
The end of the day is a time when you can evaluate everything you have done today. You can notice your progress and praise yourself for your success, or, conversely, understand that you still have to work hard to achieve your goal.
Benjamin Franklin asked himself every night, “What good have I done today?” This was an important step towards his goal, which, as we remember, was the achievement of moral perfection.
The life of Benjamin Franklin is a shining example of the fact that you can achieve what you want if you constantly and purposefully strive for it. This man managed to change not only his life, but also the lives of many people.