{"id":4346,"date":"2019-11-11T12:29:52","date_gmt":"2019-11-11T12:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/?p=4346"},"modified":"2023-09-11T09:24:34","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T14:24:34","slug":"benjamin-franklins-13-virtues-moderation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues-moderation\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Franklin&#8217;s 13 Virtues: Moderation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe title=\"Benjamin Franklin's 13 Virtues - Moderation\" height=\"122\" width=\"300\" style=\"border: none;\" scrolling=\"no\" data-name=\"pb-iframe-player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/media\/player\/2gse6-f91dc0?from=pb6admin&amp;download=1&amp;version=1&amp;auto=0&amp;share=1&amp;download=1&amp;rtl=0&amp;fonts=Helvetica&amp;skin=1&amp;pfauth=&amp;btn-skin=107\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<h5 id=\"wisdom-in-all-things-special-series\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wisdom In All Things Special Series<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>You might say that it was Benjamin Franklin&#8217;s disillusionment with a sermon on Philippians 4:8 that was at least partly responsible for his conceiving of &#8220;the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection&#8221; that is his 13 virtues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A wise life is a virtuous life.&nbsp; There is an expectation of behavior from someone who claims to be wise. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/wisdom\/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues-wisdom-in-all-things\/\">This 13-part series<\/a> will seek to help us understand a life that is exemplified by the characteristics elevated by this great American statesman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"expose-moderation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>EXPOSE  |  Moderation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cAvoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.\u201d &#8211;  Benjamin Franklin<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"explore-moderation-in-all-things\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>EXPLORE  |&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>Moderation In All Things<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>If you were to read further about how this virtue played out in Franklin&#8217;s life, you would find that it may have had more to do with moderating the expression of his opinion, than with the abuse of things like alcohol or gambling.  For Franklin, the application was transformative.  Indeed, you could describe it as an early version of &#8220;how to win friends and influence people&#8221;:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis habit [of being too positive or negative when sharing his opinion], I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures that I have been from time to time engaged in promoting; and, as the chief ends of conversation are to&nbsp;<em>inform<\/em>&nbsp;or to be&nbsp;<em>informed<\/em>, to&nbsp;<em>please<\/em>&nbsp;or to&nbsp;<em>persuade<\/em>, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat everyone of those purposes for which speech was given to us, to wit, giving or receiving information or pleasure.\u201d &#8211; Benjamin Franklin<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>It might seem impossible that you could describe achieving moderation in just one word.  But I think Cameron Gunn may be on to something.  When you think of someone who is moderate, it is certainly fair to describe them as being polite.  And certainly, you would call Benjamin&#8217;s urging as a call to be polite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;I think that the core of Franklin\u2019s moderation boils down to a quality identified by Alan Houston: politeness. Houston notes that Franklin sought to emulate the sensible man who was \u201cmoderate, cultivated, sociable, and self-disciplined\u201d. This \u201cman of sense\u201d was, in short, polite.&#8221; &#8211; Cameron Gunn<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>His efforts toward moderating the expression of his opinions align with how the dictionary defines moderation: \u201cthe avoidance of excess or extremes, especially in one&#8217;s behavior or political opinions.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, in this way, both Merriam-Webster and Franklin are in direct opposition to the mindset, and behavior, of exactly where our culture has been tracking for some time.  Now, moderation is what you avoid, while extremes are what you embrace, pursue, live for\u2014as if to argue that moderation is an extreme to be avoided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More to the point is that moderation is to be applied broadly.  That is, we are to moderate the expression of our opinions, just as we moderate the consumption of ice cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"execute-living-in-moderation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>EXECUTE  | <\/strong>Living in Moderation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Moderation is about choice.  What we choose, or not choose, is key to avoiding unnecessary and undesirable consequences.  It is a proper understanding and balance of our wants and needs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"the-way-through-to-moderation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Way Through to Moderation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>No surprise, it is living with intentionality.  Intend to live inside the edges.  Draw the lines on this side of the extremes.  Stay in bounds.  It is why good golfers take such time and care to make the right shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But our lives shouldn\u2019t be lived by being overly aware or too deliberate about what NOT to do.  Instead, decide what you should do, and you won\u2019t be unnecessarily distracted by the extremes.  The golfer isn\u2019t just trying not hit into the pond, or the bunker, or the gallery, but is focused on where he wants the ball to go\u2014not where he doesn\u2019t want it to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So it is with living a life of moderation.  When we focus on what we can\u2019t or shouldn\u2019t do, that is all we think about.  Rather, after intentionally laying out appropriate and helpful boundaries, you\u2019ll be able to roam and frolic freely within.  In this way, moderation is freeing!  We are free from the burden of the pursuit and consequences of excess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"o-be-careful-little-eyes-what-you-see\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">O Be Careful Little Eyes What You See<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>If \u201cwe are what we eat\u201d, then we do as we see.  This can either be a good thing or a potentially hazardous thing.  When we\u2019re unsure of how to do something, we can look to others to \u2018see\u2019 how it is done.  But unfortunately, when we want to fit in, we can be too willing to do as others are doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the power of what we view to persuade, it is crucial that we scrutinize what we allow ourselves to see, just as we should do with what we eat.  The abstract, <em>The Factors Affecting the Life of Moderation<\/em>, bears out this point, in particular to living a life of moderation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe sole negative driver of living a life in moderation was the exposure to advertising through the media.\u201d &#8211; Orose Leelakulthanit<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"monitor-your-stimulation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Monitor Your Stimulation<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>If we chase what we feel, it will only lead to wanting more stimulation, which in turn can lead us quickly to extremes.  Moderating how often, how much, and by what we are stimulated can be both a barometer of, and protector from, the extremes we need to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Too much stimulation overloads our sensory circuits. It is thus essential to unplug and get away. The best thing to do is to periodically tear out into the outdoors.  Leave your phone and computer behind.  &#8211; Brett McKay, The Art of Manliness<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"delay-your-gratification\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Delay Your Gratification<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning, saving, and waiting.  When we think through something, work toward it over time, and simply just deny ourselves the stunted pleasure that immediate gratification provides, we experience a greater depth of satisfaction.  Putting off the pay-off will optimize our experience with whatever it is we desire, and, allow us to have a proper and healthy relationship to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The more you hold out for something, the greater the pleasure you\u2019ll experience when you finally attain it.  Have you ever noticed that the anticipation of a holiday can be just as good and sometimes better than the actual holiday itself? Hold out for things and enjoy the exquisite pleasure of anticipation. &#8211; Brett McKay, The Art of Manliness<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"thoroughly-enjoy-the-few\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thoroughly Enjoy \u201cThe Few\u201d<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Our pleasure or satisfaction is not in &#8220;the many&#8221;, but in being thoroughly satisfied with &#8220;the few&#8221;.  This might be the other side of the coin to monitoring our stimulation.  Rather than seek more things, it will be most gratifying to us if we are more meticulous about our enjoyment of what we currently have or are doing.  There may be more &#8220;juice left in the lemon&#8221;, so to speak, that requires another long squeeze rather than tossing it for another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>When we feel unhappy and bored there are two ways to revive our feelings of enjoyment and pleasure. One is to seek new things and more stimulation. You can start going out more, and buying more new things and experiences. But the pleasure you get from ratcheting up the intensity of these experiences will eventually end in a plateau. The alternative is to cultivate the virtue of moderation by seeking greater enjoyment and pleasure in things you are already doing now. &#8211; Dr. Andy Garrett<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This too is the abundant life God has called us to.  Abundant doesn\u2019t sound moderate.  Abundant life is in the width, the depth, and the breadth of the few things, not in the flirting and flitting with the many.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"warning-dont-misapply-moderation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Warning: Don&#8217;t Misapply Moderation <\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>All this talk about avoiding extremes can also be an extreme to avoid.  There may be times that we use the idea of \u201call things in moderation\u201d to suppress a very bold step we are being asked, or required, to take.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cI worry that many Christians have subconsciously taken this to heart and live in agreement with the statement \u201cmoderation is best in&nbsp;<em>all things.<\/em>..\u201d letting the idea of staying in the middle become as formational to our identity as our devotion to Christ Himself.\u201d &#8211; David Wetherell<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>From Christ\u2019s sacrifice for us to our call to resist sin to the point of bloodshed, God\u2019s response to sin, and subsequently what ours should be, is anything but moderate.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The paradox is that the better life is a life lived in moderation, not in excess.  We are most fulfilled when we fill up on a few things.  When we are intentional about deeply nurturing those key soul-satisfying, world-changing characteristics, behaviors, and interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"benjamin-franklins-book-of-virtues\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Benjamin-Franklins-Book-Virtues-Franklin\/dp\/1429093552?crid=1OKBX6DKBF5OB&amp;keywords=benjamin+franklin+13+virtues&amp;qid=1692066624&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C112&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=li3&amp;tag=wisdominallth-20&amp;linkId=64c2f1c30b6223b3c88277c9d5d1a1b5&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_il\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"\/\/ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?_encoding=UTF8&amp;ASIN=1429093552&amp;Format=_SL250_&amp;ID=AsinImage&amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;WS=1&amp;tag=wisdominallth-20&amp;language=en_US\" width=\"120\" height=\"192\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><span id=\"productTitle\" class=\"a-size-extra-large celwidget\" data-csa-c-id=\"e8vio1-h97man-lsoj2f-xer9bh\" data-cel-widget=\"productTitle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Benjamin-Franklins-Book-Virtues-Franklin\/dp\/1429093552?crid=1OKBX6DKBF5OB&amp;keywords=benjamin+franklin+13+virtues&amp;qid=1692066624&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C112&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=li3&amp;tag=wisdominallth-20&amp;linkId=64c2f1c30b6223b3c88277c9d5d1a1b5&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_il\">Benjamin Franklin&#8217;s Book of Virtues<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>&#8220;This pocket-sized hardcover edition contains all thirteen &#8220;moral virtues&#8221; as Benjamin Franklin wrote them in his memoirs, first posthumously published in 1791.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Benjamin-Franklins-Book-Virtues-Franklin\/dp\/1429093552?crid=1OKBX6DKBF5OB&amp;keywords=benjamin+franklin+13+virtues&amp;qid=1692066624&amp;sprefix=%2Caps%2C112&amp;sr=8-1&amp;linkCode=li3&amp;tag=wisdominallth-20&amp;linkId=64c2f1c30b6223b3c88277c9d5d1a1b5&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_il\">Buy Now on Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:10px\">As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h5 id=\"benjamin-franklins-grand-plan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Benjamin Franklin&#8217;s Grand Plan<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Franklin&#8217;s &#8220;meticulous execution&#8221; of his 13 virtues was embodied in a chart he developed in order to observe and quantify his growth toward perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a number of examples of his chart available, but here is one for reference from Homeschool Patriot:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-de7846c2-56cc-498c-a11d-109b358607d1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Ben-Franklins-13-Virtues-Chart.pdf\">Ben Franklin&#8217;s 13 Virtues Chart<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Ben-Franklins-13-Virtues-Chart.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-de7846c2-56cc-498c-a11d-109b358607d1\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you use this chart, or devise something yourself, it is certainly in your best interest to have some tool in place to not only keep you focused, but to establish the habit of intentional growth in those characteristics that make up the virtuous life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;<br>Further reading: <br><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ushistory.org\/franklin\/autobiography\/page38.htm\">Franklin autobiography<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/pdfs.semanticscholar.org\/57d1\/18c3f4c0c82c145486efcd1bcfd695526e4f.pdf\">The factors affecting the life of moderation<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/unlockingthebible.org\/2019\/09\/moderation-best-policy-christian-life\/\">Is moderation the best policy?<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/benfranklincircles.org\/moderation\/what-is-your-idea-of-moderation\">What is your idea of moderation?<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ag-thrive.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/23\/practicing-the-good-life-with-ben-franklin-virtue-9-moderation\">Practice the good life with Ben Franklin<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/articles\/the-virtuous-life-moderation\/\">The virtuous life: moderation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/bLv-2j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/staging\/3400\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Wisdom-in-all-things-leadbox-wisdom-delivered.jpg\" alt=\"Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things Email\" class=\"wp-image-1040\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u201cAvoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.\u201d &#8211;  Benjamin Franklin\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4334,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_custom_appearance":"","csco_disable_excerpt_posts_layout":false,"csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[350,307],"tags":[316,349,351],"class_list":{"0":"post-4346","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-issue-66","8":"category-special","9":"tag-benjamin-franklin","10":"tag-issue-66","11":"tag-moderation","12":"cs-entry","13":"cs-video-wrap"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Benjamin Franklin&#039;s 13 Virtues: Moderation - Wisdom In All Things more than avoiding extremes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Moderation is more than just avoiding the extremes. Like golf, you &quot;stay in bounds&quot; by focusing on the shot you want to make. Moderation means fulfillment.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wisdominallthings.com\/benjamin-franklins-13-virtues-moderation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Benjamin Franklin&#039;s 13 Virtues: Moderation - Wisdom In All Things more than avoiding extremes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Moderation is more than just avoiding the extremes. Like golf, you &quot;stay in bounds&quot; by focusing on the shot you want to make. 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