Take It From Benjamin

In 1723, seventeen year old Benjamin Franklin arrived broke as can be in Philadelphia. Success after success followed in the form of inventions, business ventures and political esteem. He was later able to retire at the age of 42 as a very wealthy man. Franklin claimed that his great success was owed to practicing and religiously following thirteen principles. These principles are:

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 it's 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; waste nothing.
   
   
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
   
   
7. Sincerity: Use no harmful 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; forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
   
   
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.
    
    
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, nor at accidents.
    
    
12. Chastity: Be chaste in matters with the opposite sex.
    
    
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Many have suggested exploring Franklin's principle by means of meditating on one per week and trying to incorporate each weekly principle into your life as much as possible.