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Benjamin Franklin's Book of Virtues
This pocket-sized hardcover edition contains all thirteen "moral virtues" as Benjamin Franklin wrote them in his memoirs, first posthumously published in 1791. In the heart of this larger work--today known as The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin --he writes of the "bold and arduous Project of arriving at Perfection" that he set for himself as a young man. In this task for perfection, young Benjamin prepared a catalog of thirteen necessary or desirable virtues that he might strive to acquire by means of habit and daily practice. This Applewood Books edition includes a chart that Benjamin Franklin used to track his personal progress towards perfection.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published March 17, 2015
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385 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Franklin
2,532 books1,895 followersBenjamin Franklin was a writer, a philosopher, a scientist, a politician, a patriot, a Founding Father, an inventor, and publisher. He helped with the founding of the United States of America and changed the world with his discoveries about electricity. His writings such as Poor Richards' Almanac have provided wisdom for 17 years to the colonies.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 10, 2021
A great way to start your day if not your way!
A man of method and measurement, Benjamin Franklin was hooked on self-improvement. As his main strategy for character development and self-betterment, he started out tracking his performance on a round dozen virtues he thought the most important to better himself. However, a friend (a Quaker, no pun intended) then told Franklin perhaps his biggest weakness was pride. So Franklin then had a patriotic baker’s dozen (13) virtues to monitor. Quite simply, Franklin made a grid with red ink with the initials of his virtues running down the first column, and the days of the week for the headers of the other columns. During the first week of 13 weeks, he’d focus on the first virtue, the second week, the second, and so on. When he had a failing during a day, he’d make a mark in pencil for that day but only for that virtue and the ones in rows above it. His objective was to have as few marks as possible. Once the 13 weeks were up, he’d start over, doing this four times per year, covering 52 weeks.
For the dozen virtues I’ve not mentioned, you’ll need to read the book, which also gives you some wonderful background to Franklin’s efforts, all in Franklin’s words, of course. I particularly found fascinating Franklin’s striving to become humble or at least not to appear arrogant and overbearing. He recommended tempering one’s assertions by words such as “I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine.” In contradicting someone, he suggested using a phrase on the order of “In some cases I can see that you’re right, but in this case it appears there’s a difference.”
Note: the book is pretty much an extract of the “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” However, it is beautifully bound, and, at the fantastic price of around $5, makes a wonderful gift for a young friend or relative just starting out in life. Hopefully, you can show by your sterling example how well it works, maybe even suggesting by your gift a fourteenth virtue, generosity!
Of possible interest: Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation and
George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!”
A man of method and measurement, Benjamin Franklin was hooked on self-improvement. As his main strategy for character development and self-betterment, he started out tracking his performance on a round dozen virtues he thought the most important to better himself. However, a friend (a Quaker, no pun intended) then told Franklin perhaps his biggest weakness was pride. So Franklin then had a patriotic baker’s dozen (13) virtues to monitor. Quite simply, Franklin made a grid with red ink with the initials of his virtues running down the first column, and the days of the week for the headers of the other columns. During the first week of 13 weeks, he’d focus on the first virtue, the second week, the second, and so on. When he had a failing during a day, he’d make a mark in pencil for that day but only for that virtue and the ones in rows above it. His objective was to have as few marks as possible. Once the 13 weeks were up, he’d start over, doing this four times per year, covering 52 weeks.
For the dozen virtues I’ve not mentioned, you’ll need to read the book, which also gives you some wonderful background to Franklin’s efforts, all in Franklin’s words, of course. I particularly found fascinating Franklin’s striving to become humble or at least not to appear arrogant and overbearing. He recommended tempering one’s assertions by words such as “I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine.” In contradicting someone, he suggested using a phrase on the order of “In some cases I can see that you’re right, but in this case it appears there’s a difference.”
Note: the book is pretty much an extract of the “Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” However, it is beautifully bound, and, at the fantastic price of around $5, makes a wonderful gift for a young friend or relative just starting out in life. Hopefully, you can show by your sterling example how well it works, maybe even suggesting by your gift a fourteenth virtue, generosity!
Of possible interest: Strategy Pure and Simple: Essential Moves for Winning in Competition and Cooperation and
George Washington's Liberty Key: Mount Vernon's Bastille Key - the Mystery and Magic of Its Body, Mind, and Soul, a best-seller at Mount Vernon. “Character is Key for Liberty!”
July 28, 2022
Came across this book as a reference in Jonathan Haidt's 'The Happiness Hypothesis'. Although short, I found it a great model for building character and self-improvement regarding soft skills. I have printed out Franklin's schedule and will start implementing this in my own life.
December 14, 2025
Dec 2020: Extremely short but exceptional to say the least. Much is said in few words. The book is all about working hard to better yourself and improve on a daily basis.
Dec 2025: five years later and I’ve finally revisited this book. I found myself underlining or highlighting new parts and questioning my doing so from five years ago. I think a had a few new take aways and understood franklins headspace a bit more this time around. The key thing that I missed last time is that Franklin himself never achieved a perfect virtuous version of himself and when he got older, it didn’t bother him because he knew in him trying to do so, he was improving himself each day and was better for trying. He also noted that habits are the best determiner in our virtues and success in life. Overall, I really needed this and I’m glad I revisited it.
Dec 2025: five years later and I’ve finally revisited this book. I found myself underlining or highlighting new parts and questioning my doing so from five years ago. I think a had a few new take aways and understood franklins headspace a bit more this time around. The key thing that I missed last time is that Franklin himself never achieved a perfect virtuous version of himself and when he got older, it didn’t bother him because he knew in him trying to do so, he was improving himself each day and was better for trying. He also noted that habits are the best determiner in our virtues and success in life. Overall, I really needed this and I’m glad I revisited it.
March 24, 2019
Although it's kind of a helpful little book (it's really more like a newspaper article), there's nothing new that you haven't read before (maybe they were new and helpful ideas in the 17th c), it's always good to realize that a guy like Franklin was always trying to improve his character, not always successfully according to the book.
July 24, 2025
There is a modern interpretation in the public's imagination that Benjamin Franklin was an eccentric charmer who used wit and womanizing to secure France’s alliance during the Revolutionary War. I don’t think that view is entirely wrong. However, I do believe it only captures one side of a man who made major contributions to public education, electronic design, constitutional law, and premodern healthcare. To better understand the full magnitude of this Enlightenment titan, it is prudent to examine the principles he ascribed to and lived by.
In this review, it is important to note that this is not really a book of virtues. It is primarily a letter exchange between Benjamin Vaughan and Benjamin Franklin. Roughly a third of the text consists of Vaughan praising Franklin's greatness. In his reply, Franklin shares a brief account of how the seeds of his personal discipline were planted with the formation of a local book club, which later grew into the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Franklin goes on to explain that his work ethic was sustained by a commitment to a virtuous life. He found little inspiration in the moral teachings of the pulpit, so he constructed a list of values that felt practical and personal. These thirteen virtues, in the order he believed they should be developed, were: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. It’s worth noting that temperance (“Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation”) and silence (“Speak only what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation”) formed the foundation for all the rest.
What makes this letter so intriguing is the frankness with which Franklin reflects on his own life. In the age of the Great Awakening, he admits he found it difficult to attend church services consistently. He is also sincere in acknowledging that certain virtues, like keeping an orderly home and remaining humble in debate, did not come naturally to him. These moments of honesty add a contemporary, human element to the mythos of this founding father.
Given that this is not truly a book and most of the listed virtues are not elaborated upon, I’m inclined to give it three stars. However, I do believe this letter exchange does reveal that true greatness is rarely predisposed but rather sequentially striven for.
In this review, it is important to note that this is not really a book of virtues. It is primarily a letter exchange between Benjamin Vaughan and Benjamin Franklin. Roughly a third of the text consists of Vaughan praising Franklin's greatness. In his reply, Franklin shares a brief account of how the seeds of his personal discipline were planted with the formation of a local book club, which later grew into the Library Company of Philadelphia.
Franklin goes on to explain that his work ethic was sustained by a commitment to a virtuous life. He found little inspiration in the moral teachings of the pulpit, so he constructed a list of values that felt practical and personal. These thirteen virtues, in the order he believed they should be developed, were: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility. It’s worth noting that temperance (“Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation”) and silence (“Speak only what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation”) formed the foundation for all the rest.
What makes this letter so intriguing is the frankness with which Franklin reflects on his own life. In the age of the Great Awakening, he admits he found it difficult to attend church services consistently. He is also sincere in acknowledging that certain virtues, like keeping an orderly home and remaining humble in debate, did not come naturally to him. These moments of honesty add a contemporary, human element to the mythos of this founding father.
Given that this is not truly a book and most of the listed virtues are not elaborated upon, I’m inclined to give it three stars. However, I do believe this letter exchange does reveal that true greatness is rarely predisposed but rather sequentially striven for.
November 23, 2024
1. short book that includes the 13 virtues and then the rest of it is some commentary about Ben's pursuit of the 13 virtues
2. List of Virtues
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 your resolve
5. Frugality -- Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing
6. Industry -- Lose to time; be always employed 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, clothes, 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
2. List of Virtues
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 your resolve
5. Frugality -- Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing
6. Industry -- Lose to time; be always employed 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, clothes, 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
May 28, 2025
Grow in Character
This short review of Benjamin Franklin’s effort to improve his character is a timely read for today. In a culture awash in moral relativity that presents itself in hatred and loathing of everything and everyone, including self, this should be required study, reflection, and IMPLEMENTATION!
Consider the thoughts of this man with the leading voices of today and be stunned by the vast chasm between them. Contrast the two: today’s voices are digital wizards, able to generate clicks and breed followers resulting in the dissemination of the vacuous and despondent leading to the destruction of society and culture. Ben Franklin was a modest man of deep thought and moral vigor able to sway hearts and minds away from self-interest toward building a society, culture, and nation that never existed; a Constitutional Republic.
This short review of Benjamin Franklin’s effort to improve his character is a timely read for today. In a culture awash in moral relativity that presents itself in hatred and loathing of everything and everyone, including self, this should be required study, reflection, and IMPLEMENTATION!
Consider the thoughts of this man with the leading voices of today and be stunned by the vast chasm between them. Contrast the two: today’s voices are digital wizards, able to generate clicks and breed followers resulting in the dissemination of the vacuous and despondent leading to the destruction of society and culture. Ben Franklin was a modest man of deep thought and moral vigor able to sway hearts and minds away from self-interest toward building a society, culture, and nation that never existed; a Constitutional Republic.
January 25, 2018
I very much enjoyed this short, little book. I also enjoyed how Mr. Franklin wrote and expressed his views. In the beginning he listed 13 virtues that he wanted to work on his life and that others would find helpful too. They are as follows: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Chastity, and Humility. He included a short definition of each and then wrote about he tried to achieve it. I think this would be a helpful book for any person to better themselves in their character. But I would say that it is impossible to make oneself good or rid yourself completely of sin, victory comes through the power of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life.
March 17, 2019
I read the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin not realizing that this is actually the first part it did allow me to review the first part of the book and focus more on the ideas that I wanted to for that section it also allowed me to do some more in-depth note-taking and if you read this book didn't just realize that the first part of the autobiography is this book. Overall still a great book it allows you to change your way of thinking and understand into the mind of Benjamin Franklin during his time and even today this book makes plenty of sense.
January 21, 2020
It is a very quick read. Written by Benjamin Franklin, it lays out what he thought are the important virtues in life (temperance, silence, industry, sincerity, tranquility etc). More importantly it lays out how he practices being a virtuous person, what path and activities he followed to be more virtuous. He also highlights how these virtues enabled him to be a better person. A very nice book to read :)
October 29, 2021
I love this book. I love Franklin’s goals. He is my hero in the list of virtues he made and then trying to achieve his goals. He realized his goals were not possible, but worth trying. He matured as a teenager into an adult and realized he could be wrong, but could help others through his honesty and writings.
He made amazing advancements in science, the literary field, and politics. And yet he said he struggled with humility the most.
He made amazing advancements in science, the literary field, and politics. And yet he said he struggled with humility the most.
November 17, 2019
A wonderful little book outlining the 13 virtues Benjamin Franklin wished to improve upon in his life. It was inspiring and motivating and especially poignant because Ben admits he wasn't always perfect or did well in his pursuit of improvement. Made him seem a little more human. It also made me think I can improve in my own life, even if I sometimes have setbacks.
July 9, 2025
It's very short and I think that the mentioned "The Art of Virtue" would have been a great elaboration upon Franklin's views. This is just a taster of Franklin's philosophy, I feel, but I still find it deeply interesting.
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January 11, 2020Humility is the hardest virtue as it must be mastered to subdue pride.
March 6, 2020
A quick read but I really enjoyed how Ben Franklin set up a system to work on improving himself every day.
March 27, 2020
A simple, short, and direct book teaching you about the "duty of man to maintain himself and expound upon his grace." Takes <30 min.'s to read.
August 24, 2020
Franklin always delivers.
December 5, 2020
Really insightful, although Ben Franklin didn’t always follow his “Chastity” virtue very well.
February 22, 2021
Short but packed with so much knowledge. Great for those who just want to be better human beings.
March 4, 2021
Read every year...short, concise and full of good stuff. An antidote to the craziness we live in and with today.
July 15, 2021
Very brief but I liked it. I also enjoyed his honesty about the two he struggled with most.
August 14, 2021
What a well-spoken, well-tempered lad.
December 29, 2022
The virtues are just a few paragraphs long. Most of the text is in the auto biography.
April 9, 2023
Amazing book! Short and detailed. Not repetitive and it goes straight to the point. Highly recommended.
July 26, 2023
A classic that has obviously endured centuries!
February 1, 2021
This short book conveys a list of 13 behaviors that Franklin adopted in his daily life. He believed that this practice contributed to his wealth and contentment. Interestingly, Franklin understood how to change a habit. He wrote down the behaviors and marked his progress for each one until he mastered it, and then regularly revisited his list to reinforce the behavior. I found the book to be relevant for modern times and believe society would benefit if more people followed Franklin's lead.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews