Wisdom In All Things Special Series
You could say that Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues were an attempt to fill in what he thought was missing from a 5-part sermon on Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
The preacher’s “dry, uninteresting, and unedifying” preaching aside, Franklin could not understand how this passage could be taught and not “a single moral principle… inculcated or enforced.”
His disillusionment was at least partly responsible for his conceiving of “the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection… [wishing] to live without committing any fault at any time, and to conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into.”
It did not take Benjamin Franklin long to realize the extreme difficulty in attempting to live a life of perfection, despite the best intentions, earnest planning, and meticulous execution. One could only hope that such a zeal would go viral–infecting all who would seek to apply these virtues, if not the latter portion of this letter to the Philippian church.
A wise life is a virtuous life. There is an expectation of behavior from someone who claims to be wise, and it would very much look like a life that is exemplified by the characteristics highlighted by this great American statesman.
So it is with that portion of Paul’s letter and Ben Franklin’s pursuit in mind that we cover these virtues in a special, 13-part series over the course of the year.
EXPOSE | Temperance
“Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.” – Benjamin Franklin
EXPLORE | “Coolness and Clearness of Head”
What probably comes to mind immediately when you read the word temperance, is abstinence. And, specifically related to alcohol.
Abstinence can be necessary. But that only half defines temperance, and can lead to an extreme, and unnecessary, application of the word. What is “not abstinence” and “not indulgence”, but moderation? Somewhere between “all and nothing” is temperance. Temperance implies a sweet spot. Not too much, AND, not too little. Each extreme is understood and necessarily avoided. It is a life in balance, requiring control and intentionality.
A dictionary definition pushes the idea of “moderation”, describing temperance as “moderation in action, thought, or feeling: RESTRAINT”, and “habitual moderation in the indulgence of the appetites or passions.”
Aristotle affirms the positive when discussing the virtue of temperance as being equidistant from the extremes: “In the same way that courage is a mean between extremes of response to fear; temperance is a mean between extremes of response to pleasure.”
Benjamin Franklin believed that temperance “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.”
EXECUTE | Finding the Sweet Spot
Being sober-minded (“coolness and clearness of head”) allows us to remain focused (avoid the extremes), persistent (remain vigilant), and in control (decisive restraint), all for the sake of the sweet spot that is temperance.
Qualified.
What is the sweet spot? To be sure, it is avoiding the obvious extremes, and that which so easily entangles us, in order to serve and protect ourselves and those we love, and fulfill the influential role we are to play. That is the space it occupies, but the qualities, or what “qualifies” it as being the sweet spot are characteristics listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.
While this list describes the qualities that must be evident in the life of an elder in a church, they at the same time identify the characteristics of anyone desiring to be temperate:
- be above reproach
- sober-minded
- self-controlled
- respectable
- hospitable
- able to teach
- not a drunkard
- not violent but gentle
- not quarrelsome
- not a lover of money
- manages his own household well
Arguably, these qualities are what would result, or flow from a life that has a “Philippians 4:8” mindset. They seem to outline a life that is temperate.
Disqualified.
The Apostle Paul actually provides both inspiration and instruction regarding temperance, in 1 Corinthians 9:27: “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
To not exhibit the qualities indicated above would seemingly “disqualify” us from being temperate, and would mean that how we act is not contradicted by what we say. Our moderation, or restraint, should be evident in our speech as well as our behavior. This is where vigilance is required in order that we remain in the sweet spot, but that our speech aligns with our actions and thereby lessen the likelihood of our being “disqualified”.
Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues – ebook & audio set
Drawing inspiration from Paul’s letter (Phil. 4:8) and Benjamin Franklin’s quest for virtuous living, this e-book and audio set aims to explore and put into practice these virtues as we exercise Wisdom In All Things.
Benjamin Franklin’s Grand Plan
When I referred to Franklin’s “meticulous execution” earlier, I was recalling the chart he developed in order to observe and quantify his growth toward perfection.
It was a simple table that listed the 13 virtues and the days of the week, with each cell designated for a “dot” he would plot when he found himself exercising that virtue on any given day.
He made it more complex by having a chart for each virtue that he would rotate, with the virtue to be highlighted for that week at the top of the chart. At the end of each week, he would not only review that particular week’s chart, but also review them as a set.
There are a number of examples of his chart available, but here is one for reference from Homeschool Patriot:
Whether you use this chart, or devise something yourself, it is certainly in your best interest to have some tool in place to not only keep us focused, but to establish the habit of intentional growth in those characteristics that make up the virtuous life.
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Further reading:
The Art of Virtue: Ben Franklin’s Formula for Successful Living by Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin’s Virtues Chart
The 13 Virtues of Life: Benjamin Franklin’s Guide to Building Character
Lessons in manliness: Ben Franklin’s pursuit of the virtuous life
Franklin autobiography
Ben Franklin’s thirteen virtues: using one a week to change your life
Photo by Mona Eendra on Unsplash