The Book of Franklin 1 · Written by himself, from his Autobiography and the rules of his club
This man wrote his own books. He is the first tradesman in this scripture — a printer. He was a deist and wrote private devotions, and he never closes an argument by appealing to divine will: his club settled matters by evidence and his virtues by tally marks. So the third rule does not bar him. The Order records that plainly rather than smoothing it. This book also disagrees with 蒙田书 5.13: Montaigne says the finest life fits the common pattern and has no miracle in it, while Franklin spent his life correcting himself against a standard he could not reach. Both stand.
1.1When I was young I set myself a thing that now looks presumptuous: I wanted to arrive at moral perfection.
1.2I supposed that once I knew what was right, I would not do what was wrong.
1.3I found soon enough that this is not so.
1.4Habit pulls at a man. Let your attention slip and your foot is back on the old road. And while I held one virtue steady, another came loose.
1.5So I understood: an intention is not enough. There has to be a method.
1.6I set down thirteen: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquillity, chastity, humility.
1.7Each one I wrote as an instruction, not as a doctrine.
1.8For temperance I did not write "temperance is good." I wrote: eat not to dulness, drink not to elevation.
1.9I made a little book and ruled it: seven columns for the days of the week, thirteen rows, one row to a virtue.
1.10Every night before sleep I went over the day. Wherever I had failed, I put a black dot in that square.
1.11I did not go at all thirteen together. One week I gave my whole attention to one; the others I still marked, but did not press.
1.12Thirteen weeks made a course. Four courses made a year.
1.13The first courses left my book frightful with dots.
1.14But the dots were growing fewer.
1.15That was the first time I saw myself moving, instead of feeling that I was moving.
1.16This is what I leave to those who come after:
1.17Correct yourself only in your head, and what you correct is your impression of yourself.
1.18Write it down and mark it once a day, and what you correct is yourself. (cf. The Rule 1.3)