Learn what the 13 virtues are, why Franklin practiced them, and how to apply them today.
Habit Tracking, Weekly Focus, and the Chart Method
Benjamin Franklin never intended his virtues to remain abstract ideals.
He believed character could be shaped through attention and repetition, so he designed what he called his “bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.” His solution was not perfectionism—but observation.
Franklin listed thirteen virtues and focused on one virtue per week, while remaining mindful of the others. Each day, he marked a small dot whenever he failed to live up to a virtue—not to shame himself, but to see patterns clearly.
Over time, the marks told a story.
The chart revealed habits, tendencies, and blind spots that otherwise went unnoticed. Progress wasn’t measured by flawless weeks, but by fewer marks and greater awareness.
This simple system—virtues, weekly focus, and honest tracking—became Franklin’s framework for steady, lifelong growth.
What Are the 13 Virtues?
Virtue #1: “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
Virtue #2: “Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
Virtue #3: “Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
Virtue #4: “Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
Virtue #5: “Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
Virtue #6: “Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
Virtue #7: “Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.”
Virtue #8: “Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
Virtue #9: “Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
Virtue #10: “Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”
Virtue #11: “Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
Virtue #12: “Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.”
Virtue #13: “Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
How to Start Practicing the Virtues Today
You don’t need to adopt all thirteen virtues at once.
Franklin didn’t.
He began by choosing one virtue for the week, allowing focus without overwhelm. The rest were observed quietly, without pressure to master them all at once.
The key was not effort alone—but clarity.
When virtues are named, written, and observed, they move from theory into daily life. Patterns emerge. Distractions become visible. Growth becomes possible.
The simplest way to begin is the same way Franklin did:
- Choose one virtue
- Observe your habits honestly
- Reflect at the end of the week
- Adjust and continue
Small, consistent attention over time produces meaningful change.
Download the Free Virtues Chart + Weekly Habit Tracker
To help you begin, I’ve created a free printable chart modeled after Franklin’s original system.
The free PDF includes:
- A one-page list of all 13 virtues with Franklin’s definitions
- A weekly habit-tracking grid modeled after Franklin’s chart
- Simple instructions for focusing on one virtue at a time
This free, printable PDF gives you the (modernized) chart Franklin used to track his progress toward moral growth, designed to help you slow down, pay attention, and cultivate better habits one week at a time.
Download the exact habit-tracking chart Benjamin Franklin used to pursue the 13 virtues.
Explore Each Virtue
Virtue #1: “Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.”
Virtue #2: “Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”
Virtue #3: “Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.”
Virtue #4: “Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.”
Virtue #5: “Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.”
Virtue #6: “Industry. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.”
Virtue #8: “Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.”
Virtue #9: “Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.”
Virtue #10: “Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.”
Virtue #11: “Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.”
Virtue #13: “Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.”
Wisdom That Forms Character
While Franklin’s virtues stand on their own, they echo a much older truth: that wisdom is not merely known—it is lived.
Scripture speaks often of formation through attention, restraint, and practice:
“Whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable—if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise—think about these things.”
— Philippians 4:8
Franklin sought to name and cultivate what was excellent.
The biblical vision of wisdom calls us to do the same—not for self-perfection or self-promotion, but to live a life of purpose, meaning, and faithfulness.
I wrote a six-part series on King Solomon—the second wisest person to have ever lived. In part 6, The Kind of Request That Pleases God, I sum up some of the lessons that we can learn from Solomon’s life. As we see with Solomon, even the wisest heart is prone to succumb to life-altering, soul-destroying persuasion. I concluded, just as Solomon did, “Life lived apart from God will be meaningless, regardless of education, fulfilled goals, the greatest of pleasures, and the greatest abundance of wealth (Ecclesiastes 1:2).”
