conviction, that it was our interest to be com- trifles, nor at accidents common or unavoidpletely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent able. our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependance on a steady uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore tried the following method.

In the various enumerations of the moral virtues I had met with in my reading, I found the catalogue more or less numerous, as different writers included more or fewer ideas under the same name. Temperance, for example, was by some confined to eating and drinking; while by others it was extended to mean the moderating every other pleasure, appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even to our avarice and ambition. I proposed to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annexed to each, than a few names with more ideas; and I included under thirteen names of virtues, all that at that time occurred to me as necessary or desirable; and annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressed the extent I gave to its meaning.

These names of virtues, with their precepts,

were,

12. CHASTITY.-Rarely use venery, but for health or offspring; never to dulness or weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY.-Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

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 a 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

1. TEMPERANCE.-Eat not to dulness: considering that in conversation it was ob

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.

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: he 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.

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.

tained rather by the use of the ear than of
a habit I was getting into of prattling, pun-
the tongue, and therefore wishing to break
ning, and jesting, (which only made me
acceptable to trifling company,) I gave Silence
This and the next, Order,
the second place.
I expected would allow me more time for
attending to my project and my studies. Re-
solution once become habitual, would keep
me firm in my endeavours to obtain all the
subsequent virtues. Frugality and Industry
relieving me from my remaining debt, and
producing affluence and independence, would
make more easy the practice of Sincerity and
Justice, &c. &c. Conceiving then, that
agreeably to the advice of Pythagoras in his
Golden Verses, daily examination would be
necessary; I contrived the following method
for conducting that examination.

I made a little book, in which I allotted a page for each of the virtues. I ruled each page with red ink, so as to have seven columns, one for each day of the week, marking each column with a letter for the day. I crossed these columns with thirteen red lines, marking the beginning of each line with the first letter of one of the virtues; on which line, and in its proper column, I might mark by a little black spot, every fault I found upon examination to have been committed respect

10. CLEANLINESS.-Tolerate no uncleanli-ing that virtue, upon that day.* ness in body, clothes, or habitation.

* This little book is dated Sunday, 1st July, 1733, and is in the possession of Mr. W. T. Franklin: a copy 11. TRANQUILLITY.-Be not disturbed at was also in the possession of the late B. F. Bache.

of renewing now and then my little book, | lent man should allow a few faults in himself,

It may be well my posterity should be informed, that to this little artifice, with the blessing of God, their ancestor owed the constant felicity of his life down to his 79th year, in which this is written. What reverses may attend the remainder is in the hand of Providence: but if they arrive, the reflection on past happiness enjoyed, ought to help his bearing them with more resignation. To Temperance he ascribes his long continued health, and what is still left to him of a good constitution. To Industry and Frugality, the early easiness of his circumstances, and acquisition of his fortune, with all that knowledge that enabled him to be an useful citizen and obtained for him some degree of reputation among the learned. To Sincerity and Justice, the confidence of his country, and the honourable employs it conferred upon him: and to the joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper and that cheerfulness in conversation which makes his company still sought for, and agreeable even to his young acquaintance: I hope therefore that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.

which by scraping out the marks on the paper to keep his friends in countenance. In truth of old faults to make room for new ones in a I found myself incorrigible with respect to new course, became full of holes, I transferred Order; and now I am grown old, and my my tables and precepts to the ivory leaves of memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of a memorandum book, on which the lines were it. But on the whole, though I never arrived drawn with red ink, that made a durable stain; at the perfection I had been so ambitious of and on those lines I marked my faults with a obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was by black lead pencil; which marks I could easily the endeavour, a better and a happier man wipe out with a wet sponge. After a while I than I otherwise should have been, if I had went through one course only in a year; and not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect afterwards only one in several years; till at writing by imitating the engraved copies, length I omitted them entirely, being employed though they never reach the wished-for exin voyages and business abroad, with a multi-cellence of those copies, their hand is mended plicity of affairs, that interfered; but I always by the endeavour, and is tolerable while it carried my little book with me. My scheme continues fair and legible. of Order gave me the most trouble; and I found that though it might be practicable where a man's business was such as to leave him the disposition of his time, that of a journeyman printer for instance, it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master, who must mix with the world, and often receive people of business at their own hours. Order too, with regard to places for things, papers, &c. I found extremely difficult to acquire. I had not been early accustomed to method, and having an exceeding good memory, I was not so sensible of the inconvenience attending want of method. This article therefore cost me much painful attention, and my faults in it vexed me so much, and I made so little progress in amendment, and had such frequent relapses, that I was almost ready to give up the attempt, and content myself with a faulty character in that respect. Like the man who in buying an axe of a smith my neighbour, desired to have the whole of its surface as bright as the edge: the smith consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel: he turned while the smith pressed the broad face of the axe hard and heavily on the stone, which made the turning of it very fatiguing. The man came every now and then from the wheel to see how the work went on; and at It will be remarked that, though my scheme length would take his axe as it was, without was not wholly without religion, there was further grinding. No, said the smith, turn in it no mark of any of the distinguishing on, turn on, we shall have it bright by and tenets of any particular sect; I had purposeby; as yet 'tis only speckled. Yes, said the ly avoided them; for being fully persuaded man, but “I think I like a speckled axe best." of the utility and excellency of my method, . And I believe this may have been the case and that it might be serviceable to people in with many, who having for want of some all religions, and intending some time or other such means as I employed, found the difficulty to publish it, I would not have any thing in of obtaining good and breaking bad habits in it, that should prejudice any one, of any sect, other points of vice and virtue, have given up against it. I proposed writing a little comthe struggle, and concluded that "a speckled ment on each virtue, in which I would have axe was best." For something, that pretend-shown the advantages of possessing it, and ed to be reason, was every now and then suggesting to me, that such extreme nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind of foppery in morals, which if it were known, would make me ridiculous; that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevo

the mischiefs attending its opposite vice; I should have called my book The Art of Virtue, because it would have shown the means and manner of obtaining virtue, which would have distinguished it from the mere exhortation to be good, that does not instruct and indicate the means; but is like the apos

But it so happened that my intention of writing and publishing this comment was never fulfilled. I had indeed from time to time put down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings, &c. to be made use of in it; some of which I have still by me: but the necessary close attention to private business, in the earlier part of life; and public business since, have occasioned my postponing it. For it being connected in my mind with a great and extensive project, that required the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen succession of employs prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remained unfinished.

tle's man of verbal charity, who without some absurdity in his proposition; and in showing to the naked and hungry, how or answering I began by observing, that in cerwhere they might get clothes or victuals, tain cases or circumstances, his opinion would only exhorted them to be fed and clothed. be right, but in the present case there apJames ii. 15, 16. peared, or seemed to me, some difference, &c. I soon found the advantage of this change in my manners; the conversations I engaged in went on more pleasantly. The modest way in which I proposed my opinions, procured them a readier reception and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevailed with others to give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the right. And this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural inclination, became at length easy, and so habitual to me, that perhaps for the fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me. And to this habit (after my character of integrity) I think it principally owing, that I had early so much weight with my fellow-citizens, when I proposed new institutions, or alterations in the old; and so much influence in public councils, when I became a member: for I was but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my point.

In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine, that vicious actions are not hurtful, because they are forbidden, but forbidden because they are hurtful; the nature of man alone considered: that it was therefore every one's interest to be virtuous, who wished to be happy even in this world: and I should from this circumstance, (there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, states and princes who have need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs, and such being so rare) have endeavoured to convince young persons, that no qualities are so likely to make a poor man's fortune, as those of probity and integrity.

In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as Pride; disguise it, struggle with it, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it perhaps often in this history. For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.

[Here concludes what was written at Passy, near Paris.]

MEMORANDUM.

I am now about to write at home (Philadelphia,) August 1788, but cannot have the help expected from my papers, many of them being lost in the war. I have however found the following;

My list of virtues contained at first but twelve: but a quaker friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my pride showed itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, and rather insolent; (of which he convinced me by mentioning several instances) I determined to endeavour to cure myself if I could of this vice or folly among the rest; and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning to the word. I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it. I Having mentioned a great and extensive made it a rule to forbear all direct contradic-project which I had conceived, it seems protion to the sentiments of others, and all posi- per, that some account should be here given tive assertion of mine own. I even forbid of that project and its object. Its first rise in myself, agreeably to the old laws of our Junto, my mind appears in the abovementioned little the use of every word or expression in the paper, accidentally preserved, viz. language that imported a fixed opinion; such as certainly, undoubtedly, &c. and I adopted instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or I imagine, a thing to be so, or so; or it so appears to me at present. When another asserted some thing that I thought an error, I denied myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately

OBSERVATIONS, on my reading history, in library, May 9, 1731.

"That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, &c. are carried on and effected by parties.

"That the view of these parties is their present general interest; or what they take to be such.

"That the different views of these different | for the admission of improper persons; but parties occasion all confusion.

In 1732, I first published my Almanack under the name of Richard Saunders; it was continued by me about twenty-five years, and commonly called Poor Richard's Almanack. “That he governs the world by his provi- I endeavoured to make it both entertaining dence. and useful, and it accordingly came to be in "That he ought to be worshipped by adora-such demand that I reaped considerable profit tion, prayer, and thanksgiving.

from it; vending annually near ten thousand.

"But that the most acceptable service to And observing that it was generally read,