It would be difficult to find a better representative of the Age of Enlightenment than
Benjamin Franklin (1706–90). He was a writer, a newspaper editor, a printer and a
political activist. He was a scientist who did ground-breaking research into the nature
of electricity. He was the inventor of such innovations as bifocal lenses for glasses,
flippers for swimming, a stove that circulated air and a musical instrument. He was a
philosopher and a diplomat, a musician and a composer. And so far we have not
mentioned what he is most famous for – he was one of the Founding Fathers, the
group of men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, drafted the
American Constitution and created the United States of America.
Above all, Franklin was an enthusiast with an insatiable curiosity and a fearless
approach to life. For example, when he had a theory that lightning actually was electrical charges, he flew a kite into a lightning storm to prove it! But how did Franklin
find time to achieve all this in one lifetime? Franklin gives us the answer to this, as
well as many other questions, in a book called Poor Richard’s Almanac, which
Franklin published in yearly instalments between 1732 and 1758. (The “poor
Richard” of the title refers to his pseudonym Richard Saunders.)
In an essay entitled “The Art of Virtue”, Franklin describes how he
“conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection” – no less! But this is more than the average New Year’s
resolution to be a better person that most of us make from time to
time. Franklin’s plan is based on a “method”. He makes a list of thirteen basic virtues. These he writes in a little book, one virtue on
each page. Then he draws seven columns on each page, one for
each day of the week, and crosses each column with thirteen lines.
At the end of each day he puts a black spot in the appropriate
square for every moral fault he has made. In this way he is able to
see where his moral weaknesses lie and where he must strive to
improve himself! Here are the thirteen virtues he identifies:
T
Joseph Siffred Duplessis
(1725–1802): “Benjamin
Franklin”
he Art of Virtue
by Benjamin Franklin
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.
arduous slitsom/slitsam
elevation her: rus
trifling triviell
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
107
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 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.
N. Currier (1813–88) and J.M.
Ives (1824–95): “The Tree of
Temperance”, 1872
resolution besluttsomhet,
forsett / rådsnarheit, forsett
resolve beslutte/avgjere
frugality sparsommelighet/
sparsemd
deceit bedrag
108
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
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. TRANQUILLITY. 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.
omit utelate
forbear avholde / avstå frå
resent ta seg nær av
habitation bopel/bustad
tranquillity ro
trifle småting
chastity kyskhet/kyskleik
venery sex
humility ydmykhet/audmjukskap
idleness lediggang
devise utarbeide
contrive forordne/fastsetje
prosecute forfølge/forfølgje
diversion adspredelse/tidtrøyte
Idleness is, as we all know, the root of all evil, so Franklin also devises a
timetable to ensure that the twenty-four hours of the day are used as
effectively as possible:
The Morning Question:
What Good shall I do this Day?
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
5
The Evening Question:
What Good have I done today?
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
1
2
3
4
Rise, wash, and address Powerful Goodness!
Contrive day’s business, and take the resolution of
the day; prosecute the present study, and breakfast.
Work
Read, or overlook my accounts, and dine.
Work
Put things in their places, supper, music, or
diversion, or conversation.
Examination of the Day.
Sleep
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
109
Activities
1 DISCUSSION
a) Franklin narrows down the list of virtues
to thirteen. What do you think of his list?
Are there any you would add, or take
away?
b) Which of these virtues strike you as being
old-fashioned – in other words, least
compatible with life in the 21st century?
c) What do you think of Franklin’s daily
schedule? How does it compare to yours?!
d) If you were to start using Franklin’s
schedule, how would it change your life?
Would these changes be for the better, or
the worse?
2 VOCABULARY
a) Find adjectives for each of the virtues
Franklin names. For example: temperance – temperate
b) Franklin gives a short exemplification of
each virtue, using a verb in the imperative. For example: Temperance – Eat not
to Dullness, drink not to elevation. Do the
same with the virtues listed below. Note:
Franklin uses the rather old-fashioned
form of the negative imperative, rather
than the modern form don’t eat… don’t
drink. You can choose whether you want
to sound modern or old-fashioned!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
110
generosity
caution
patience
bravery
loyalty
perseverance
discretion
THE ENLIGHTENMENT
3 GRAMMAR TASK
Discuss which form of the verb is correct in
the following sentences, and why:
a) Either the pupils or the headmaster
has/have to decide in this matter.
b) My brother and my sisters is/are agreed
that I should make the speech.
c) Everyone selected for this task has/have to
be sure they are capable of it.
d) Some of the ammunition seems/seem to
have been stolen.
e) A high percentage of the electorate
seems/seem to have voted for change.
f) But a large number of voters has/have
simply stayed at home.
g) Like I’ve always said, politics is/are a dirty
business.
h) Doris is one of those people who never
seems/seem to grow old.
i) Not only the students, but also the teacher
has/have learned something from these
exercises.
j) Bacon and eggs is/are my favourite breakfast.
4 WRITING
Take a leaf out of Jonathan Swift’s book and
write a satirical list of virtues for our times,
with exemplifications. Satirical means that
you will be choosing “virtues” that are not
very virtuous at all, but that you think are
typical of the time we live in. You might try
choosing antonyms (i.e. words that mean the
opposite) to the virtues in Franklin’s list.