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Franklin, America, and two Virtues

"Some may think these trifling matters not worth minding or relating" (143), says Franklin. He has a different point of view. He said he would clean up the streets so he did. And now, he will do it as best as possible. Franklin is known for his greatness in forming this country, but even at a time he worked hard to get streets clean. It was simple but the principle of his action is important. His resolution is always apparent no matter what the task is. .
             Similar to the importance of resolution, we can look to Franklin's virtue of silence as it is a key virtue to his success. Because Franklin is a perfectionist, he centers his work on doing what is best. Silence may be one of the smartest virtues he comes up with. Without talk or "trifling conversation," there is no room for distraction. We understand what silence he is talking about when he tells, "when men are employed they are best contented.but on the idle days they were mutinous and quarrelsome" (165). Knowing Franklin holds silence as a virtue, we can understand why he can recognize his men and their work. When working there is lack of conversation, and he observes the contention of the men. Men at work would only speak to each other for the sake of conversation rather than observing silence. Franklin sees that on idle days there are quarrels. These begin with argument and to Franklin this would be trifling and unnecessary. It results in bad behavior. The arguments are started by conversation that is needless to Franklin. Franklin points this out because it accord with his virtue. Without conversation the men would work all day and not have room for quarrels. Silence is predominantly held when Franklin is tells the reader of the rule he will hold while in the assembly; "I shall never ask, never refuse, nor never resign an office" (125). All he will do is listen and accept. He follows this principle because he feels it cannot benefit him to ask or refuse or ever resign.


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2. The Contributions of Benjamin Franklin

... America's greatest heroes due to his roles in securing the independence of the United States and establishing it as a nation. Franklin became the most famous American of his time, helping found a new nation and defining the American character. Franklin was a writer, a businessman, founder of a fire company, an inventor, diplomat, musician, scientist, and a civic leader. Franklin ... achieve his aim, he made a little book, in which he allotted a page for each of the virtues. "I made a little book in which I allotted a page for each of the virtues. I ruled each page with red ink, so as t...

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3. Benjamin Franklin

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4. Ben Franklin

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5. Franklin, Benjamin

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6. Benjamin Franklin

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7. Benjamin Franklin

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8. Selection from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

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9. Ben Franklin

... negotiations between Britain and America. He also signed the Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France, the Treaty of peace between England, France, and the United States, and the Constitution. Franklin also served as a member in the Albany Congress, the Second Continental Congress, and the Constitutional Convention. Along with being a inventor, politician, revolutionist, scientist, and statesman, Franklin was also a writer. Franklin started to write ... at a young age. He wrote his first works when he was working under his brother. Franklin wrote two ballads, one about Black ...

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