Ben Franklin

A detailed Summary of Ben Franklin

The validity of Benjamin Franklin's idea that certain virtues lead to success and happiness has much validity but has diminished greatly since Franklin's time. Many of the virtues that were discussed by Franklin in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, have great meaning today, but do not necessarily take on the same meanings that Franklin defined in his day. By using these virtues Franklin seemed to be striving for a moral perfection (C.P., 50). His moral perfection seemed to consist of a lifestyle that would put work for and play nowhere. This would generally mean that you should engage in all activities as if it would benefit you and others in many ways. In simpler terms, he means you should not waste time in life by engaging in activities, or speaking nonsense that doesn't move your forward in a progression sense.

America as a whole focuses on one goal, and this would be the pursuit of happiness. The pursuit of happiness to many people is to be wealthy, having a good relationship with their Superior, and to live life as an ever-going trip of accomplishing feats. Americans in Franklin's time people had to strive to do many things due to the fact that many things were not guaranteed to them. There were no handouts in t

Americans consider Order to be generally two things, a stable state, or a general sequence that one usually follows. In Franklin's case, he is referring to a general sequence, or the normal sequence that things usually fall into. "Let all things have their places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time. (C.P., 50)" This virtue doesn't generally bring happiness or success to anyone. This showed how Franklin used his time to its advantage and how he did everything in a very precise manner. By reading his autobiography, you could get from it that he took every action he did as a big process to better his life, or to better the ones around him. Every step he took was followed by something that is followed by another meaningful step. "Order, I expected would allow me more time for attending to my time and studies. (C.P., 50)" Order allowed Franklin to find more time to attending to his studies. This could apply to many Americans. By doing things in a general manner, we could easily find time to tend to other important things in our lives. Take for example, a college student wasting his or her time after class, and not tending to one's studies. By the time there is a test or something due, that individual did not follow the general process of studying everyday, going to the library to do research, or other miscellaneous helpful things that help themselves to learn material. By procrastinating one can greatly hinder them.

Based on all the collected virtues given by Benjamin Franklin through his autobiography, Americans have many things that they can use to be successful and to fulfill their happiness. Even though Franklin had a great meaning of prosperity and commitment, some may feel that he lacked a sense of ease and of humor in some cases. He lived a life that was generally an ever-going process of bettering himself and the others around him. Many people say life should be this way, but should it be this way to that extent. Some of his virtues are currently instilled in Americans, but they have diminished greatly due to so many other factors that have came along through centuries. Americans have their own virtues that have come along through such times as 9/11 and also through good things that have happened within our country. Through tragedy, our beliefs enable us to stand together, and live to see another day. You could call this part of our family structure, or just a pure understanding of what being an American is all about. Americans have seen a great

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Approximate Word count = 1686
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People