The One Virtue Ben Franklin Prized Above Them All

No matter your environment, practicing humility in speech is a great step toward being a better person

Photo by Adam Nir on Unsplash

In Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, he lays out 12 virtues that would serve as his guideposts for becoming a better person.

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

But Franklin notes that not long after adopting this list, a friend of his politely told him that he seemed much to proud. Specifically, he tended to speak to others in a way that made constructive discussions difficult.

And so, the eager-to-improve young Franklin quickly added a 13th virtue to his list — which by his estimation, became the most useful. That was humility. And though many people pay lip service to that virtue, they tend to have a more abstract notion in mind. But Franklin had a particular set of actions in mind — all pertaining to how he spoke.