B. Franklin had some decent thoughts about how to live life. His 13 virtues look like this:
1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
I eat to dullness and drink to elevation on a daily basis. Shit.
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
Work would be damn slow if I abided by this. And I don't know if Kaisa and I would be able to talk anymore, which would be sad.
3. Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have it time.
All my things do have their place. It just happens to be the floor of my bedroom or Molly's attic.
4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
I think I got this one in the bag.
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
Mmmm... next month. I'll learn this one when I go from salary to hourly.
6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unncessary actions.
Is writing down Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues unnecessary?... Maybe only if I post them on Facebook.
7. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Shit.
8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
So, rugby is out?
9. Moderation. Avoid extremes, forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
I can forgive, sometimes, if it wasn't so bad what they did.... And all my friends would say I am a person of great moderation. No, that's not true.
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no clothes in body, clothes or habitation.
Does showering twice a day make up for wearing the same jeans for a week and living in a rat nest?
11. Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common and avoidable.
I got this one too. Some of the time.
12. Chastity. Rarely use but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
No, I got this one! Totally. I like how he uses "rarely", wasn't fully ready to commit on that one. And to weakness? Maybe I am just missing something here. Probably.
13. Humilty. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Totally awesome people but both sentenced to death for their beliefs.
