On Frugality and Industry - 10 January 2018
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I've been reading "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin", and it is
quite a good book so far. Franklin initially wrote his biography for
his son in the hopes that he might have gleamed some wisdom and life
experience from his father, but I feel that there is something there for
me to learn as well. In the middle of his book Franklin places a list of
virtues which he had developed and lived his life by and they are as
follows:
THE FRANKLONIAN VIRTUES
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TEMPERANCE Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
SILENCE Speak not but what may benifit others or yourself;
avoid trifling conversation.
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; i.e. waste nothing.
INDUSTRY Lose no time; be always employ'd in something
useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
SINCERITY Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly,
and if you speak, speak accordingly.
JUSTICE Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the
benifits that are your duty.
MODERATION Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much
as you think they deserve.
CLENLINESS Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or
habitation.
TRANQUILLITY Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common
or unavoidable.
CHASTITY Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never
to dulness, weakness, or injury of your own or
another's peace or reputation.
HUMILITY Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
I think that these are a well chosen list of virtues, but there were a
few virtues that peaked my interest, namely industry and frugality.
After reading through the biography, it became apparent that the leading
causes of Franklin's success was his adherance to these principles.
Even though these ideas were set forth nearly three hundred years ago, I
beleive they are still 100% applicable to modern life. I'm already a
very frugal person, I try to save as much money as possible and fight
the daily temptations to go and buy a new computer that I don't need or
a new video game that I wouldn't have the time to play.
I am far from industrious however, as I struggle to keep my self doing
things that are important, like studying or practicing my programming
skills. They say that the average american spends 6 hours a day watching
television, and although I take pride for rarely watching any
television, I spend a compareable amount of time watching youtube and
browsing aimlessly though the web. Boy do I hate the idea of being
average...
Anyways, frugality and industry go hand in hand, and if I'm ever going
to achieve my dream of becoming a professional programmer, then I better
start dedicating myself to these values.
