The Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin

After I dropped out of university everybody always asks me what I’m doing and what I plan to do. Everybody has an opinion on what I should do with my life and what I am doing, parents (obviously), mom’s friends, dad’s friends, aunt, grandma, my friends, and even their parents. Not that this is a bad thing and feedback is useful, but it is simply impossible to please each and every one of them. “Sometimes your parent's dreams have to die in order for yours to live” -Alex Hormozi. Everybody imposes their values, beliefs, and expectations onto you for what you should do with your life. It is important to rationally consider the merit of what they say, but it is equally important to be able to reject the “religion” your mom, or whoever, tries to impose onto your life. Kill their dreams so yours can live.

This week we’re covering one of the greats, Benjamin Franklin, we’ll explore his wisdom, go over some practical advice, and lessons we can take from him for the modern day.

In the past there has almost always been one dogma to follow, but in the modern day there are nearly endless “religions” and sects (religion in the broad sense of any particular group with a set of beliefs, values, and practices) to subscribe to and many are conflicting.

Benjamin Franklin did not subscribe to any particular dogma but observed each open-mindedly and took wisdom. This is an invaluable trait in the modern day, because of the abundance of beliefs and values being pushed from every direction. The ability to rationally consider their benefits and drawbacks will result in good judgment and the wise perspective of a truth-seeker. 

This is a reminder to not ever be a 100% of representation of any group. 

“If all your beliefs line up into neat little bundles, you should be highly suspicious. Any belief you took in a package (ex. Democrat, Catholic, American) is suspect and should be re-evaluated from base principles. ” —Naval Radvikant

Benjamin Franklin’s 13 principles for life in his quest for moral perfection:

1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; 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; be always employ’d 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 you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

11. Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or injury of your own of another’s peace or reputation.

13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates

Benjamin Franklin had a dramatic rise in status from poverty to a renowned figure of America and Europe, he is renowned as a great writer, politician, and thus communicator so the habits which served him well in this regard should not be taken lightly. I’ll note that Franklin said Order was the most difficult tenet for him and he never truly obtained it. I would like to draw your attention to 2. Silence and 11. Tranquillity. “avoid trifling conversation” and “be not disturbed at trifles”. Benjamin Franklin often noted the benefits of his habit of avoiding needless argumentation and how great fortune has come his way because of these habits. In his youth, he was very prone to argumentation with his brother while working at his printing house. After getting inspired by a Socratic dialogue, he changed his argumentation style completely to a “humble Enquirer & Doubter”. He mentions how his habit of arguing “in terms of modest Diffidence” using words such as “If I am not mistaken” or “I should think it so”, as opposed to “undoubtedly” or “certainly” had great effect on his life. In his autobiography, Franklin highlights the utility this habit had for his political fortune and rise.

Another habit which served him was routine self-reflection. Each night he would ask himself “What did I do good today?”, this is a practice many great figures and thinkers attest to. Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius all praise the benefits of journaling and self-reflection.

By having a practice of regular reflection on your day you will be cognisant of the things working well, and the problems which help to trend you towards good practices and away from bad ones the next day. Over a long time horizon this results in outstanding growth and progress. An actionable step to use this in your life is to get a journal to have on your nightstand. Nightly you write in it starting with the date and under: ‘What did I do well today?’ and ‘What could I do better for tomorrow?’. You can also use this journal for any other prompts or topics you wish to organize your thoughts on.

Striving towards a lofty ideal provokes a better version of you, even if you never achieve it:

“On the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been, had I not attempted it.” -Benjamin Franklin