What are Benjamin Franklin's 13 virtues?

In a world that often moves too quickly, where self-worth is measured by fleeting milestones and external achievements, it is grounding to remember that character is something we build—not in haste, but in quiet persistence. Few have understood this better than Benjamin Franklin.

Before he became a Founding Father, a diplomat, or an inventor, Franklin was a man in pursuit of something quietly radical: personal integrity. At the age of twenty, he committed himself to a bold and humble experiment—an effort not to be perfect, but to become better. “I conceived the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection,” he wrote. He knew perfection was out of reach, yet he believed deeply in the value of striving toward it. His approach was methodical, self-aware, and surprisingly modern.

What he created was more than a list of ideals—it was a system for daily living, built around thirteen virtues that he believed formed the backbone of a useful and honorable life. These were not borrowed from lofty scriptures or philosophical treatises, but drawn from experience. They were practical. They were human. And above all, they were meant to be lived.

This article is not merely an exploration of Franklin’s values—it is an invitation. An invitation to reflect, to slow down, and to begin again with intention.

Let us walk with Franklin’s virtues—one at a time—and consider what they might mean for us today.

1. Temperance
Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.

Moderation forms the foundation of all other virtues. Franklin believed excess clouded the mind and dulled the senses. Practicing temperance invites us to live with awareness—of how we nourish our bodies, how we spend our time, and how we seek pleasure. In a culture of extremes, temperance reminds us: clarity begins with restraint.

2. Silence
Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

Franklin cherished thoughtful speech. He cautioned against idle chatter, not out of austerity, but because he valued words that held meaning. To speak with purpose is to honor both yourself and others. Practicing silence fosters listening, and listening creates space for empathy and wisdom to grow.

3. Order
Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

A well-ordered life cultivates peace. Franklin understood that clutter—of space or schedule—distracts from deeper work. Order is not rigidity, but rhythm. It allows life to breathe. In his daily planner, Franklin asked each morning, “What good shall I do this day?” And each night, “What good have I done today?” Order grants us the calm to ask such questions.

4. Resolution
Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

Resolution is the bridge between intention and action. To resolve is to choose with clarity. To follow through is to build self-trust. Franklin’s system was not passive reflection—it was active commitment. His habit tracker kept him accountable, reminding him daily that improvement is a decision renewed.

5. Frugality
Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

Frugality, to Franklin, was not stinginess—it was mindfulness. Whether with money, time, or energy, he believed in spending wisely. Frugality asks us to invest only in what brings true value. It is not about having less, but about honoring enough.

6. Industry
Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful.

Franklin’s life was defined by productive energy. But productivity, to him, was never hollow busyness. Industry means engaging your time with purpose—whether in work, study, or service. He warned against idleness, not to push ambition, but to keep the spirit active and alive.

7. Sincerity
Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly.

To be sincere is to align one’s words with one’s heart. Franklin knew that honesty builds relationships and that truth, spoken gently, carries great power. Sincerity invites trust and creates space for meaningful connection.

8. Justice
Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

Justice is more than fairness—it is responsibility. Franklin believed that to do no harm is not enough; we must also do the good we are capable of. Justice calls us to act, to speak up, and to contribute to a more just world, however we can.

9. Moderation
Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

Moderation protects us from emotional whiplash. It teaches us that balance is strength. Franklin cautioned against reacting in anger or excess. By practicing moderation, we cultivate stability, both within ourselves and in our relationships.

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

Cleanliness, for Franklin, was about self-respect. A tidy space and a well-kept body reflect a mind that values order and dignity. This virtue isn’t about perfection, but presence—the way small acts of care shape our inner environment.

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

Life offers daily irritations. Franklin knew this. Tranquility is not indifference, but the ability to hold perspective. It is the art of choosing calm over chaos, especially when the moment invites neither.

12. Chastity
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring.

This virtue often feels out of place to modern ears, but its essence is restraint. Franklin viewed chastity as a call to honor one’s body and relationships. It is about choosing depth over impulse, and recognizing the power of intimacy as something sacred.

13. Humility
Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

The final virtue was added last—perhaps because Franklin saw its necessity only after wrestling with the rest. Humility anchors all the others. It reminds us that we are ever-learning, ever-improving, never above correction. True humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking beyond yourself.

A Gentle Practice for Modern Times

Franklin’s method endures because it is kind. He did not punish himself for failure. He studied his faults with curiosity, not shame. His little notebook, marked with black spots for each slip, became a mirror—not of failure, but of awareness.

Try this for yourself. Create a simple chart. Reflect each night. Don’t strive for perfection—strive for presence.

Start with one virtue a week. Carry it with you. Let it shape your choices and tone your voice. At the week’s end, turn the page, and begin anew.

As Franklin wrote in his autobiography: “Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man.”

And perhaps, so might we be.

Take a moment to explore his remarkable life Benjamin Franklin’s Biography—you’ll find plenty to reflect on!