The 13 Virtues of Benjamin Franklin
Channel: Gregory Stratton
Date: 2019-09-25

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most influential figures from the 18th century. Born in 1706 on Mill Street in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin grew up poor, but early in life he designed a system and attempted to live by it to the best of his ability. At the age of 20, he established his system of 13 virtues.

These virtues are temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, chastity, tranquility, and humility. Franklin didn't try to work on these all at once. Rather, he focused on a different virtue each week and trying to follow it to the best of his ability.

Franklin believed that by leading a life according to this strategy, he would be happier and more productive, and the long list of his many achievements throughout life spans 85 years of history. From Boston, Massachusetts, to Philadelphia Pennsylvanie, and across the Atlantic Ocean to London and Paris, Franklin was a dashing figure. Considered a fashion icon in Europe, as American Ambassador to France he was known for wearing exotic items like fur, and considered the epitome of American genius, industry, and ingenuity.

In addition to his printing business, Franklin published books including Poor Richard's Almanac, which brought him great wealth and fame. This afforded him the luxury of enjoying his time on a variety of pursuits. He was an 18th-century renaissance man. His wide-ranging successes span many different fields including the arts, sciences, government, philanthropy, engineering, cartography, oceanography, demography, meteorology, humor, and more.

In particular, Benjamin Franklin was known for his many aphorisms. He published many books containing advice on a variety of topics.

If you would like to learn more about Ben Franklin, check out an extended version of this video here: https://youtu.be/UIVEiZXToaU

Music:
Healing by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
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Education
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