Book of Virtues

Franklin in London, 1767, wearing a blue suit with elaborate gold braid and buttons, a far cry from the simple dress he affected at the French court in later years. Painting by David Martin, displayed in the White House.
Franklin in London, 1767, wearing a blue suit with elaborate gold braid and buttons, a far cry from the simple dress he affected at the French court in later years. Painting by David Martin, displayed in the White House.
Franklin on the Series 2009 hundred dollar bill - Book of Virtues
Franklin on the Series 2009 hundred dollar bill

Who doesn’t love Benjamin Franklin? What a rock star this man was, first world tour smash hit in Europe, where they were so engrossed by his hilly-billy charm and sharp whit, that he was invited backstage everywhere he went. Ben became a sensation and the entire world wanted to hear what he said next, where he went and who he was hanging with. Brilliant people always find each other more amusing, he was friends with the Avant-garde because he was the original Born in USA, Avant-garde Rock Star.

Foundational to Ben’s character was his morals, this dude was straight-forward no-bullshit, you can especially see it where he edits Jefferson’s hand in the declaration but that’s another story. The simple reason for Benjamin Franklin’s outstanding qualities as a statesman and ambassador of peace and love, as well as his belief “in God we Trust”, can by grasped by reading one of his first books. Short and simple; Book of Virtues and like a catchy Beatles song, it caught on and never stopped.

Even if Ben didn’t always live by his own list, at least he knew what the code is. In today’s world there needs to be more common sense ideology about virtue and it’s importance in the survival of mankind. Art, beauty and virtue are in short supply in our culture today. We each need to become the change we want and begin to make the changes in ourselves.

Benjamin Franklin (center) at work on a printing press. Reproduction of a Charles Mills painting by the Detroit Publishing Company.

Benjamin Franklin made the world a better place by publishing books to expand knowledge, plus he showed others how to print, franchised the press out to anyone capable enough. Ben knew that knowledge is power but without action it’s useless, so his entire life he kept publishing and helping other people to express themselves. Ben was also a Jedi Master Word Smith.

In 1726, at the age of 20, Benjamin Franklin created a system to develop his character, check it out here: The Virtuous Life: Wrap Up

Jordan Peterson explains Virtue, please listen

Jordan Peterson has been touring the world to get this point to the masses, that we need to hold ourselves to a higher level of personal responsibility. Please watch this speech and share it.

Virtue (Latin: virtus, Ancient Greek: ἀρετή “arete“) is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality that is deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being. Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting collective and individual greatness. In other words, it is a behavior that shows high moral standards. Doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. The opposite of virtue is vice.

The four classic cardinal virtues in Christianity are temperance, prudence, courage, and justice. Christianity derives the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love (charity) from 1 Corinthians. Together these make up the seven virtues. Buddhism’s four brahmavihara (“Divine States”) can be regarded as virtues in the European sense. The Japanese Bushidō code is characterized by up to ten virtues, including rectitude, courage, and benevolence.

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