I was inspired recently reading about Benjamin Franklin’s virtues tool for personal growth. Apparently he wanted to continuously improve his character so he read a lot about virtues to see what people said about the qualities and characteristics a person might hope to develop. He summarised the various authors by collecting together the 13 virtues which he thought most authors agreed.
He then made himself a chart with the 13 virtues down the first column and the seven days of the week making up the other columns. Every day he reflected on his behaviour and put a black mark in any box where he felt he had acted in a way which failed a particular virtue. He did this throughout his adult life, focussing on one particular virtue each week to improve himself.
He showed himself his improvement through the decline in the numbers and spread of black marks.
Now I have issues with that particular method but I’ll return to that in another post.
The 13 particular virtues are interesting and although written in what now seems old fashioned language, the principles he elaborates in relation to each virtue show he had a thoughtful, tolerant and balanced approach to virtues.
Have a look at them. What do you think? Would you sign up to all of these? If not, which would you remove from your list? And would you add any he hasn’t included?
If you want to follow in his footsteps you can download of pdf of his chart here and use it either as a standalone or as an integral part of the marvelous HipsterPDA project!
Here they are –
- Temperance – eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation
- Silence – speak not but what may benefit others or yourself;
avoiding trifling conversations - Order – let all your things have their places; let each part of
your business have its time - Resolution – resolve to perform what you ought;
perform without fail what you resolve - Frugality – make no expense but to do good to others
or yourself; that is, waste nothing - Industry – lose not time; be always employed in
something useful; cut off unnecessary actions - Sincerity – use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly;
speak accordingly - Justice – wrong none by doing injuries or omitting
the benefits that are your duty - Moderation – avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries
so much as you think you deserve - Cleanliness – tolerate no uncleanliness in body,
clothes or habitation - Tranquillity – be not disturbed at trifles or accidents
common or avoidable - Chastity – rarely use venery but for health or offspring;
never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of our own
or another’s peace or reputation - Humilty – imitate Jesus and Socrates
Heroes Not Zombies 
thanks for sharing this! I might change the wording up some, but I think I agree with all of them. Especially like the reminder to be tranquil during times of stress, or accidents.
me too, Ester, the one about Tranquillity really struck me.
I’ll do a post about Seligman’s virtues and what he calls his “Signature Strengths” soon and then my own take on both of those views…..come back and see soon!
All things in moderation. If you met a person that practiced all of these, would you want to know her?
I am all for tranquility, as Ester mentioned, but that anti-idleness stuff doesn’t sit at all well with me.
If I remember reading Seligman correctly, most of his studies were done on college students. Is that right?
Ah, I know what you mean, Christopher, maybe its a matter of being moderate about virtues too! I do think you put your finger on an interesting point though. I’m posting up Seligman’s virtues today and then I’ll do a post on the interesting thing that emerges when you do a compare and contrast between them. Really, it’s quite interesting! Not quite finished that yet – I’m not teasing – but probably by tomorrow.
I can’t answer your question about the college students but I think a heck of a lot of psychology research HAS been conducted on college students. That’s certainly worth remembering. I know that almost all medication is tested on people who are either healthy or have only one disease and are not pregnant and are aged between 18 and 70. Yet this “evidence” is supposed to be applicable to typical patients who are older or younger than this and have several chronic diseases on the go at the same time. So, yep, let’s be wary.
What appeals to me about positive psychology is what appeals to me about solution-focussed approaches and this virtues thing seems to be consistent with that focus.
It fits for me with a health-focus as opposed to a disease-focus. I see my job as a doctor to be about understanding someone to help them to become well. People get well through self-repair and self-recovery. And that whole aspect of health care is really missing. Almost all we do focusses on disease and trying to contain it or fight it. We ALSO need the positive side, the interventions which encourage and support HEALTH and recovery.
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