Benjamin Franklin's personal virtues

Wednesday July 8, 2026

1. Temperance
2. Silence
3. Order
4. Resolution
5. Frugality
6. Industry
7. Sincerity
8. Justice
9. Moderation
10. Cleanliness
11. Tranquility
12. Chastity
13. Humility

Franklin famously (thanks to his autobiography) wrote his list of 13 virtues at age 20, in 1726, and focused on one per week, allowing four cycles per year.

Franklin is one of the virtue-listers in After Virtue, in which MacIntyre points out that his list is different (and contradictory) in items and even in purpose, compared to lists of others through history.