Analysis of Franklin's Virtues & Success

Benjamin Franklin was a very rational man whose logic and reasoning skills were unmistakable in his thirteen virtues. He created and followed these in a serious manner.  Success is defined as "the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors " ("Success"). In this case, Franklin was attempting to become a better person and based off this definition, he was indeed successful. He accomplished this by creating the virtues specifically off of his personal opinion, using a scientific approach and procedure, and then keeping himself accountable and consistent.

The first step Franklin took towards success was making sure that his virtues lined up with what he specifically believed would benefit not only him, but anyone who attempted. He had attended public sermons where they explained their own virtues, but Franklin did not necessarily agree with them all. He then took matters into his own hands and decided to make his own (Franklin). His virtues included what he believed to be the basic essentials for a human being. He made these not only applicable to himself, but also diplomatic in the way that they would not challenge the consensus of people's beliefs during this time period. By writing these virtues from his own opinion, they were personable. He was therefore able to easily relate to the virtues and set himself up for success.

Along with having a personal relationship with the virtues, his scientific approach aided Franklin in his success as well. Being a rational man, Franklin put much thought into the process in which he would execute his goal of living out all thirteen virtues. He used the scientific method to plan his schedule in which to attempt the given virtue, as well as record and analyze his results. In Tuckerman's criticism of Franklin's character, he shares how he also believes science was a key to Franklin's success saying, "But while official duty and patriotism gave Franklin occasion to propagate and actualize so many useful and requisite principles,—to become the thinker and advocate,—the incarnated common-sense of his country and his time,—there was another sphere of mental activity, another range of sagacious enterprise, in which he expatiated with kindred success" (Bloom 2). Science allowed Franklin to organize his ideas and procedure to reach his goal.

Lastly, after succeeding in following his set thirteen, he then followed up with his success by keeping himself accountable. Franklin did this by not throwing away his book that tracked his attempts to follow the virtues, but instead keeping it as a reminder for himself. Franklin's Autobiography talks about how he always kept in on him. This way, even though he was not recording his results every day, he still had it available to pull out when he felt that he was slipping (Franklin). By being accountable for his actions, Franklin was able to maintain consistent success in becoming a better person.

Overall, Franklin's steps led him all the way to success. By taking the time to make his goal personable, he made it easier for him to relate and be motivated. By using science, he could collect his ideas and procedures to keep him on track. By staying accountable, his success in becoming a better person was not short lived. Along with Franklin's thirteen virtues, his process of successfully mastering them can be applicable as well. Following his example, one may also achieve success.

Bloom, Harold, ed. "The Character of Franklin." BenjaminFranklin, Classic Critical Views. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online.Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=&iPin=C C VBF019&SingleRecord=True (accessed October 29, 2012).

Franklin, Benjamin, Dixon Wecter, Larzer Ziff, and Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1959. Print.

"Success." Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2012. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/success>.