Tag: Virtues

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues: A Blueprint for Personal Development

linda changLeave a comment

A Path to Personal Excellence

George Washington may rightly be known as the “Father of his Country,” but for the two decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin held the title of the world’s most famous American.

Franklin, a celebrated scientist and inventor, earned recognition for his groundbreaking electrical experiments, winning the Royal Society’s Copley Medal—a prestigious 18th-century equivalent of the Nobel Prize. His notable inventions included the lightning conductor, the first map of the Gulf Stream, and a unique musical instrument, the glass armonica. Renowned composers like Gluck, Mozart, and Beethoven created concertos for this instrument. Franklin’s genius received international acclaim, with Immanuel Kant describing him as “The Prometheus of Modern Times,” and David Hume hailing him as America’s “first great man of letters.”

Benjamin Franklin, a polymath and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, left an enduring legacy not only for his political contributions but also for his philosophy of personal development. In his autobiography, Franklin outlined 13 virtues that he believed were crucial for leading a virtuous and successful life. This blog post will explore each of these virtues and delve into how Franklin practiced them in his own life.

  1. Temperance: Franklin advised moderation in eating and drinking, emphasizing the importance of avoiding excess. By maintaining temperance, individuals could achieve a clear and focused mind. Franklin recognized that a balanced lifestyle laid the foundation for success in cultivating other virtues.
  2. Silence: The virtue of silence urged individuals to speak only when their words could benefit others or themselves, discouraging trifling conversation. Franklin realized the power of listening and the importance of thoughtful communication for personal and intellectual growth.
  3. Order: To bring order to one’s life, Franklin recommended organizing belongings and allocating time efficiently. By assigning specific places for possessions and dedicating time to each aspect of one’s business, an individual could enhance productivity and reduce chaos.
  4. Resolution: Resolution involved the commitment to fulfill one’s duties and promises without fail. Franklin understood that steadfast determination was crucial for personal and professional success, encouraging individuals to set goals and work relentlessly towards achieving them.
  5. Frugality: Franklin advocated for mindful spending, emphasizing that expenses should serve a purpose, either benefiting oneself or others. This virtue highlighted the importance of avoiding wastefulness and making financial decisions with a long-term perspective.
  6. Industry: Losing no time and being consistently engaged in useful activities formed the basis of the virtue of industry. Franklin valued hard work and believed that avoiding unnecessary actions was essential for personal progress and achievement.
  7. Sincerity: Sincerity required the avoidance of deceit and the cultivation of honest and just thoughts and speech. Franklin believed that sincerity contributed to building trust in personal and professional relationships.
  8. Justice: The virtue of justice focused on treating others fairly and fulfilling one’s duty to both prevent harm and provide benefits. Franklin emphasized the importance of not wronging others through actions or neglect.
  9. Moderation: Avoiding extremes in emotions and reactions, particularly in response to injuries, was crucial for maintaining composure and cultivating the virtue of moderation. Franklin recognized the value of forbearance in dealing with challenges.
  10. Cleanliness: Tolerating no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation reflected Franklin’s belief in the importance of personal hygiene and a clean environment for overall well-being.
  11. Tranquility: Tranquility involved maintaining a calm and composed demeanor, especially in the face of trifles and common accidents. Franklin valued the ability to remain undisturbed and focused on long-term goals.
  12. Chastity: Chastity, as outlined by Franklin, suggested a responsible approach to intimate relationships, emphasizing health and the well-being of oneself and others.
  13. Humility: Imitating the virtues of Jesus and Socrates, humility was the capstone of Franklin’s 13 virtues. Humility involved recognizing one’s strengths and weaknesses, learning from others, and continually striving for self-improvement.

Franklin’s approach to acquiring these virtues was systematic. He advised focusing on one virtue at a time, mastering it before moving on to the next. By prioritizing temperance, Franklin believed that a clear and focused mind would make subsequent virtues easier to acquire. This deliberate and methodical approach allowed him to build a foundation for a virtuous life.

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues remain a timeless guide to personal development and success. By understanding and incorporating these principles into our lives, we can strive towards a more virtuous and fulfilling existence, following in the footsteps of one of history’s most influential thinkers and statesmen.

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues: A Blueprint for Personal Development

Link:https://peacelilysite.com/2024/01/12/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues-a-blueprint-for-personal-development/

#BenjaminFranklin #Virtues #PersonalDevelopment #Thinkers #Statesmen#Temperance#Humility

Source: https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/benjamin-franklin/

The Story of the “Six-foot Alley”

linda changLeave a comment

The Story of the “Six-foot Alley”

“Liu Chi Alley” (六尺巷 in chinese) is located between Xihou Street and Wumu Garden in Tongcheng District， Tongcheng city, Anhui Province. The allusion of “Six-foot Alley” has become a historical story stems from the land dispute between Zhang’s family and his neighbors.

In the Qing Dynasty, there was a famous family in Tongcheng, Anhui Province. Father and son were the prime ministers of the two generations and had great power. Their names were Zhang Ying and Zhang Tingyu.
During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty, Zhang Ying was a Bachelor of Arts at Wenhua Palace and a minister of rites. At that time, the Zhang family’s old house in Tongcheng was adjacent the house of the Wu family. There was only about 3 feet of space between the land owned by each family.

The Wu family wanted to expand their property to occupy this space. The Zhang family vehemently disagreed. The two sides brought the case to the county courthouse of Yamen. County officials knew that both families involved in the dispute were well-known families with prominent officials. They dared not easily break the dispute.
During this period, the Zhang family wrote a letter to Zhang Ying, now a senior official in Beijing, asking Zhang Ying to come out and interfere in this matter. After receiving the letter, Zhang Ying thought that he should humble the neighbors, and wrote a poem to his home in reply:


Thousands of miles of a mail is only for a wall.

Why not give up him three feet?

The Great Wall still stands today.

But where is the Empire Qishihuang now?


The Zhang family read it and eventually realized they understood its meaning. They took the initiative to give up three feet of space for the Wu family’s property. The Wu family, deeply touched by this gesture, decided to concede three feet of their own adjacent land, thus forming a six-foot lane between the properties. The two courtesy concessions and the Zhang family’s non-oppressive approach were passed on to be good folk stories.

From this story, we learn to be modest and tolerant in life. Mutual humility can avoid many contradictions and reduce disputes between people. Mutual understanding and tolerance can help people get along harmoniously, and can greatly improve people’s happiness index. As the saying goes, “A bit of forbearance will calm the wind and silence the wave. Take a step back and have the vastness of sea and sky.”

The virtues of tolerance and equality have been passed down since ancient times. In the process of building a harmonious society for people who are open-minded and respectful, this tradition of humility needs to be carried forward even more. The allusions to a “Six-Foot Lane” have gone far beyond its original meaning and has become a testimony to the virtues of harmony and humility of the Chinese nation.

The Story of the “Six-foot Alley”

Link: https://peacelilysite.com/2022/10/19/the-story-of-the-six-foot-alley/

#ChineseCulture#Six-footAlley#Toleranceandequality#Humility#Virtues#Harmony

Source: http://mandarinedu.org/English/news/12390.html