I: Introduction. When most people today hear the word “virtue,” they usually don’t think “manliness.” Having virtue or being virtuous is looked at as being sissy or effeminate. In fact, we sometimes use the word in today’s vernacular to describe a woman’s sexual conduct. However, virtue is far from being sissy or effeminate.
The word “virtue” is actually rooted in “manliness.” “Virtue” comes from the Latin virtus, which in turn is derived from vir, Latin for “manliness.” One man took up Aristotle’s challenge to live the virtuous or manly life with particular fervor: Benjamin Franklin. Franklin’s Quest for Moral Perfection Benjamin Franklin is an American legend. The key to Franklin’s success was his drive to constantly improve himself and accomplish his ambitions. I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. In order to accomplish his goal, Franklin developed and committed himself to a personal improvement program that consisted of living 13 virtues.
“TEMPERANCE. Sources. II: Temperance. This is the first in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Is there a less sexy idea today than temperance? Yet when Benjamin Franklin began his pursuit of the virtuous life, it was this virtue he chose to concentrate on first. The way in which Ben ordered his 13 virtues was deliberate. He selected temperance to kick off his self-improvement program because: …it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and the force of perpetual temptations.
In other words, first attaining self-discipline in the area of food and drink would make adherence to all of the other virtues easier. Why is this? Eat Not to Dullness The glutton is much more than an animal and much less than a man. ~ Honore de Balzac Have you ever noticed that the first few bites of a delicious food are the best? Drink Not to Elevation The Robert E. III: Silence. Photo by Millie Motts This is the second in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; Avoid trifling Conversation. Clearly, Ben was not referring to monastic solitude when he presented silence as a virtue. Instead, he had in mind the ability of knowing the appropriate time and words to speak. A gentlemen has always been judged by his manner of speech, yet our modern age presents a host of difficulties in this area that Franklin never faced. Whether because of selfishness or simple ignorance, many men are drowning as they attempt to navigate the waters of proper communication.
The Cell Phone Applying the virtue of silence with your cell phone Much of our conversations now take place over the ever ubiquitous cell phone. 1. Remember in high school when you and your friends drove around yelling and laughing and blasting your music? 2. Don’t answer your phone while holding a conversation with an actual human being. IV: Order. This is the third in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. Franklin chose Order as his third virtue because it “would allow [him] more time for attending to [his] projects and [his] studies.” Franklin understood that if he wanted to get important things done in his life, he had to make sure the little things wouldn’t get in the way.
Almost three centuries have passed since old Ben set out to perfectly live the virtue of Order. The lives of Americans today are far busier and distraction-filled than Ben could ever have imagined. Why it’s so hard to make your bed everyday It’s a common story. So, this man decides he’s going to put his life in order. It almost seems as if making your bed everyday and keeping your life in order is futile. In order to understand what we’re up against, it’s necessary to understand a bit of thermodynamics. Become a Master of the Universe Source: V: Resolution. This is the fourth in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. If you are to succeed in life, you must develop the virtue of resolution. Resolution is the firm determination to accomplish what you set out to do.
Ben included resolution as his fourth virtue, because attaining it would ensure he would work through the other nine. I’ve seen countless people set out with the best intentions, only to fail because their resolution was weak. But I’ve also seen many others succeed despite the odds because their resolve to achieve consumed them. A supreme example of resolution comes from the Macedonian military leader, Alexander the Great and his siege at Tyre. Alexander’s Resolution to Conquer Tyre Alexander the Great, one of the greatest men who ever lived, set out in his early 20′s to conquer the Persian Empire. Conquering such a fortress seemed impossible to everyone but Alexander. 1. 2. 3. VI: Frugality. Americans’ are saving their money at the lowest rate in 73 years-the lowest rate since the Great Depression.
The national personal savings rate was negative (!) 1% in 2006. That means that as a whole, the country is spending more than it is taking in. With the economy on a downhill slide, Americans may start tightening their purse strings. But I predict that instead, people will simply start running up more credit card and loan debt. They have gotten used to a certain lifestyle, and feel entitled to continuing living it. I was once watching a TV show in which a round table of finance gurus were dispensing money advice to the studio audience. The Founding Fathers feared such attitudes. Unfortunately, Americans have lost sight of the importance of frugality. Why Being Frugal is Essential to Manning Up Frugality Keeps You Out of Bondage Think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another power over your liberty. Our society is laden with debt. Last summer I clerked at the U.S. VII: Industry. This is the sixth in a series of posts on Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues.
Photo by Lewis Hine Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. If you spend any time on the web, you probably have heard of Tim Ferris‘ book “The Four Hour Work Week.” In the book, Mr. Basically, what this entails is outsourcing as many menial tasks as you can to some person in India so you can have time to travel the world pursuing your passion. 1. 2. The whole idea of shifting all your work to someone else is elitist and undemocratic. 3. 4. 5. The Case for Industriousness Develops self-respect. Do not live useless and die contemptible. ~ John Witherspoon Fights Depression. The last time I went camping, I took a hike along a beautiful stream. More time for family and civic engagement. In addition to having more time for family, by being industrious you’ll have time to devote to your community.
How to be Industrious Plan. Eliminate distractions. Have a worthy goal. VIII: Sincerity. This is the seventh in a series of posts on Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. Photo by klbndc SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. These days, “sincerity” has come to be narrowly defined and almost entirely associated with “earnestness” and the state of being truly interested in what you profess to be interested in. But Ben’s definition is a bit broader. The dictionary adds clarification as it defines “sincerity” as: “freedom from deceit, hypocrisy, or duplicity; honesty in intention or in communicating; earnestness.”
At the heart of sincerity is honesty in all your conduct and especially your communications. Gossip and Keeping Confidences Most men would never dream of robbing a bank or stealing their friends’ possessions. Gossip can hurt both you and the person you choose to talk about in several ways: If you are someone who talks behind people’s backs, even those who like you will come to mistrust you. Gossip is inherently unfair. IX: Justice. This is the eighth post in a series on living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin.
“JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” Man is a social animal. Everyday we interact with people in different capacities and relationships. In order to ensure that these interactions go smoothly, human beings have developed rights and obligations that each individual and community must recognize. The virtue of justice guides men in their quest to respect these boundaries and responsibilities. What is justice? For millennia philosophers have debated this question. How to develop the virtue of justice Develop knowledge. Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere. ~ Dr. While such knowledge comes to us intuitively, there are often issues of justice that may be out of our realm of experience or happen on a larger scale.
True men seek not only for justice in the events that intimately affect them, but for the fair treatment of all, even strangers. X: Moderation. XI: Cleanliness. This a 10th post in a series about the Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. A common stereotype that society places on males is that of the sloppy and unkempt man. We see it all the time on television. A man sitting in his man chair with potato chip crumbs all over himself. Beer cans and old pizza cartons are stacked throughout the room. They couldn’t be more wrong. While many think that only effeminate men would take the time to care about cleanliness; manly men understand that taking pride in cleanliness develops one’s attention to detail, work ethic, and self confidence.
The History of Cleanliness While the meaning of all the virtues has changed overtime, the application of the virtue of cleanliness has perhaps fluctuated the most. For an ancient Egyptian or Babylonian, cleanliness meant showering with water from aqueducts or simply from servants pouring water on you. Why is Cleanliness a Virtue? Cleanliness in Practice. XII: Tranquility. This is the eleventh post in a series about living Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. “TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.” Every day we encounter a thousand little annoyances. Some jerk cuts us off on the way to work, we get a flat tire, someone takes our lunch out of the fridge, and so on. While each incident is seemingly small, they burrow under our skin and fester there. The mundane indignities of life threaten to snuff the very life out of us.
In Western society, anger has sometimes been associated with toughness and manliness. Many men use two equally detrimental methods to deal with their anger. Why seek tranquility? Anger is one of the key primal passions that you must learn who how to harness. Not all anger is without merit. Frequent anger is bad for your health. Levels of hormones, like cortisol, increase. In prehistoric times this “fight or flight” reaction was enormously helpful. Anger hurts those around you. Kill Your Anger with Logic. XIII: Chastity. This is the twelfth post in a series about living Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. 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.
Editor’s Note: Before we get to the post, allow me to head off the would be commenter, who, thinking himself beyond clever, posts something akin to “Benjamin Franklin wasn’t chaste! He was a womanizer!” In truth, this bit of popular knowledge has been greatly exaggerated. Please see here and here. Also, as we have mentioned time and time again, Franklin openly admitted that he did not live the virtues perfectly. Ahhh, chastity. In today’s sexualized society, promoting chastity is seen as prudish and old fashioned.
Sex as a Consumer Good Sex, it seems, is everywhere. People today approach sex just as they would approach buying a widget. The Problem with the Hook-Up Culture On college campuses hooking-up has replaced dating. While many (maybe most?) Cheap Sex is Crap Sex. XIV: Humility. XV: Conclusion.