1. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10.Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11.Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12.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.Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
How did Franklin acquire these virtues?
“My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judged it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but “to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that”, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone through’ the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arranged them with that view, as they stand above."
" Temperance first, as 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. This being acquired and established, Silence would be more easy; and my desire being to gain knowledge at the same time that I improved in virtue, and considering that in conversation it was obtained rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue, and therefore wishing to break a habit I was getting into of prattling, punning, and joking, which only made me acceptable to trifling company, I gave Silence the second place.”
Franklin developed his 13 Virtues, in 1726, while traveling by ship from London to Philadelphia during his 80 days of travel. Each week he would master one virtue! Throughout his life he “continued to practice and reflect on these virtues.”
Take the one-month challenge.
Each week pick one of Franklin’s virtues to work on and master. For this New Year which of the 13 Virtues will you work on first?
I will begin at the top of his list with Temperance! © 2026 Madeline Frank
Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, speaker, business owner, teacher, conductor, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations “Tune Up their Business”. Her observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your business successful. Her latest book “Leadership On A Shoestring Budget” is available everywhere books are sold.
If you need a speaker or video speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com
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