AUTHOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN & CHARLIE STEEL
I stand nearly six feet and old Ben towers over me---and really---over the rest of us.
Now old Ben has been a friend of mine ever since I read: "A penny saved is a penny earned" or my great favorite, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy, and wise."
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
But that's a simplistic view of my friend Ben. Did you know his skills as an ambassador to France got us the money and arms to defeat the British and become the United States of America? He did that single-handedly.
Old Ben was a man of many parts and far more intellectual and accomplished than what many people give him credit for. He was among many other things, an American statesman, scientist, inventor, diplomat, author, printer and publisher.
He formed the first library in the United States: The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731---so many firsts it is difficult to mention them all.
How about all those inventions? The lightning rod, the Franklin Stove, and a really cool instrument called: glass armonica. He also invented what he called double spectacles, today known as Bifocals!
Thirteen Virtues
(This taken directly from Project Gutenberg's ebook Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin with due credit given.)
Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of 13 virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his 13 virtues as:
1. "Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
2. "Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
3. "Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
4. "Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
5. "Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
6. "Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
7. "Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
8. "Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
9. "Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
10. "Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
11. "Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
12. "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."
13. "Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
On and on and on---one can research and look up what old Ben accomplished and it is an absolutely amazing life of an incredibly amazing man. He is ONE American I am indeed proud of.
MY FRIEND---Old Ben Franklin! The MAN!
I stand nearly six feet and old Ben towers over me---and really---over the rest of us.
Now old Ben has been a friend of mine ever since I read: "A penny saved is a penny earned" or my great favorite, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man, healthy, wealthy, and wise."
"In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
But that's a simplistic view of my friend Ben. Did you know his skills as an ambassador to France got us the money and arms to defeat the British and become the United States of America? He did that single-handedly.
Old Ben was a man of many parts and far more intellectual and accomplished than what many people give him credit for. He was among many other things, an American statesman, scientist, inventor, diplomat, author, printer and publisher.
He formed the first library in the United States: The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded in 1731---so many firsts it is difficult to mention them all.
How about all those inventions? The lightning rod, the Franklin Stove, and a really cool instrument called: glass armonica. He also invented what he called double spectacles, today known as Bifocals!
Thirteen Virtues
(This taken directly from Project Gutenberg's ebook Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin with due credit given.)
Franklin sought to cultivate his character by a plan of 13 virtues, which he developed at age 20 (in 1726) and continued to practice in some form for the rest of his life. His autobiography lists his 13 virtues as:
1. "Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
2. "Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
3. "Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
4. "Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
5. "Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
6. "Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
7. "Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
8. "Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
9. "Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
10. "Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation."
11. "Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
12. "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."
13. "Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
On and on and on---one can research and look up what old Ben accomplished and it is an absolutely amazing life of an incredibly amazing man. He is ONE American I am indeed proud of.
MY FRIEND---Old Ben Franklin! The MAN!
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