Autobiography of Ben Franklin – Flashcards
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How does Franklin begin his project to achieve moral perfection?
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He compiles thirteen virtues
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Which virtue is most difficult for Franklin to master?
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Order
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Why does Franklin devote a week to each virtue?
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He thinks that if he can strengthen one virtue through strict attention, he can retain that strength when he works on the rest
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When Franklin first devised his project to attain moral perfection, he thought it would be difficult but possible to become perfect. What quality does this suggest that Franklin has possessed?
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Self-confidence
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The list of virtues that Franklin draws up suggests that he was what?
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Logical and orderly
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Based on his daily scheme, it can be assumed that Franklin most valued what?
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Accomplishing good things
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When arranging his list of values, Franklin compares himself to one "who having a garden to weed, does no attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once ... but works on one of the beds at a time." Which of his own actions does he mean this comparison to illustrate?
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Trying to master one virtue at a time
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In comparison to other books about Franklin, the autobiography probably gives you the best insight into what?
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Franklin's personality
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What gives you the most information about Franklin's times?
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The story of the speckled ax
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When Franklin called his project arduous, he meant it would be what?
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Very difficult to do
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When Franklin spoke about the felicity of his life he referred to what?
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Happy times
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According to Franklin, which of the virtues relates to avarice?
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Temperance
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A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over.
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Silence
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If your head is made of wax, don't walk in the sun.
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Humility
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Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do it today.
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Industry or Order or Resolution
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Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.
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Silence
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Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee.
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Industry or Cleanliness
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Haste makes waste.
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Frugality or Industry
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A good example is the best sermon.
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Humility or Silence or Justice
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Well done is better than well said.
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Resolution or Industry
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No pains without gains.
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Industry or Resolution
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An open foe may prove a curse; but a pretended foe is worse.
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Sincerity
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Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff life is made of.
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Industry or Frugality
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Love your neighbor; yet don't pull down your hedge.
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Moderation or Humility
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Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
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Order
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How does Frankline begin his project to achieve moral perfection?
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He compiles thirteen virtues
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Why does Franklin devote a week to each of the virtues
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He thinks he can strengthen one virtue through strict attention, he can retain that strength when he works on the rest
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When Franklin first devised his project to attain moral perfection, he thought it would be difficult but possible to become perfect. What quality does this suggest that Franklin possessed
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self-confidence
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The list of virtues that Franklin draws up suggest that he was
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logical and orderly
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Based on his daily scheme, it can be assumed that Franklin most valued
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accomplishing good things
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When arranging his list of virtues, Franklin compares himself to one "who, having a garden to weed, does not attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once, but works onwho one of the beds at the time." Which of his own actions does he mean this comparison to illustrate?
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trying to master one virtue at a time
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Which of these statements best summarizes Franklin's philosophy at the end of the selection
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The journey is more important than the destination
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Which of these sentences most likely came from an autobiography
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I hope, therefore, thay some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit
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In comparison to other books about Franklin, The Autobigraphy gives you the best insight into
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Franklins personality
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This work is classified as an autobiography because Franklin is
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the subject and author of the work
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Which of the following details gives the most information about Franklin's times?
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the story of the speckled ax
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When Franklin called his project arduous, he mant it would be
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very difficult to do
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When Franklin spoke of felicity of his life, he referred o
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Happy times
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According to Franklin, which of the virtues relates to avarice
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temperance
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Why is the selection by Franklin identified as an autobiography?
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Franklin wrote about his own life
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According to The Autobiography, what is Franklin's first step in his plan to reach perfection?
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He makes a list of what he wants to achieve
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In The Autobiography, what does Franklin say keeps him from becoming a better person?
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His own bad habits
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In The Autobiography, why does Franklin assign a week to each of the virtues he is trying to achieve?
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He hopes the strength he gains each week will spill over into the next
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In The Autobiography, Franklin believes that he can become a better person. What does this belief tell you about how he sees himself?
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He has high hopes for himself
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What effect does Franklin hope to achieve by concentrating on improving one virtue at a time?
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Success
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In which sentence is the meaning of the word arduous suggested?
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The task was very difficult
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Which word is closest in meaning to avarice?
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Greed
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Franklin observed his behavior with extreme vigilance,or
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Watchfulness
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Which of the following answers is closest in meaning to squander?
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Spend or use wastefully
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When Franklin first devised his project to attain moral perfection, he thought it would be difficult but possible to become perfect. What quality does this suggest that Franklin possessed?
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Self-confidence
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The list of virtues that Franklin draws up suggests that he was
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Logical and orderly
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In comparison to other books about Franklin, The Autobiography probably give you the best insight into
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Franklin's personality
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This work is classified as an autobiography because Franklin is
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The subject and the author of the work
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What cause Franklin to begin his moral perfection with the virtue Temperance?
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He reasoned that he must be clearheaded before proceeding to the next virtue
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What effect did tracking his progress on a chart have regarding his observations of progress?
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He could see that when he focused on one virtue, he did not do as well with the others
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What view of human nature is suggested by Franklin's aphorism"Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead"?
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Human begins like to gossip
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"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, healthy, and wise" is most closely related to which of these other aphoisms?
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"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that's the stuff like is made of."
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1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
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Eat or drink moderately.
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2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
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Do not say anything that could potentially hurt another person or yourself. Avoid gossip.
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3. Order: Let all your things have their places: let each part of your business have its time.
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Put everything away in its proper place; organize your time so there is enough time for everything you want to do and must accomplish.
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4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
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Decide that you are going to do what you should do, and then follow through with your decision without excuse.
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5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.
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Spend no money unless it is to do good for others or for yourself. Don't waste money.
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6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
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Use your time wisely/Don't waste time; be productive; be efficient.
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7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
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Don't deceive people (be trustworthy); think in a pure, positive, and fair way, and if you speak, speak the same way you think.
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8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
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Harm no one, and don't abuse your power by denying the rights of others.
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9. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
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Avoid extreme emotional responses and practice self-control.
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10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
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Bathe, keep your clothes clean, and your home clean.
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11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
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Don't let small troubles bother you nor the common, everyday annoyances we all experience.
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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.
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Chastity: Express sexual feelings appropriately rarely, and only for health, having children, and not out of boredom or lack of control, and do not let your behavior injure your peace of mind, another's peace of mind, or either person's reputation.
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13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates
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Act like Jesus and Socrates by showing the same high moral standards they did.
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What elements of Franklin's Autobiography suggest that it was written at the dawn of American independence?
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People of the time wanted to create a uniquely American way of life and Franklin represents that new American. His autobiography describes his desire to improve himself and writes of his ambition to help others follow in his path.
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Benjamin Franklin in his Autobiography
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Truthful in his life events and recognizes his flaws. He thought that through superior will-power, he would be able to get rid of bad habits and take on new ones.
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Autobiography vs. Biography
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Narrate the author's perspectives of certain events in their life, positive or negative. Autobiographies tend to be more bias due to people gloating about themselves and biographies are more factual, whether the person likes them or not.
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Ben Franklin's characteristics
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hard work, dedication and ingenuity. he was able to rise out of poverty to become a wealthy, famous and influential person
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Ben Franklin's birth
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Born in Boston, one of 17 children, became an apprentice for older brother who was a printer
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First thing printed in Philadelphia by Franklin
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"poor richard's almanack" that contained information, observations and advice, published from 1732-1757.
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Career after printing
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Scientist!! invented the lightning rod, new type of stove, confirmed laws of electricity, contributed to understanding of earthquakes and ocean currents. most importantly, POLITICS
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Franklin was considered.
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"father of his country" ambassador first to England, then to France
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when was his autobiography written?
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age 65 first section, wrote 3 more sections because of friends pressure, succeeded in 1757-1759 writing, never completed! provides understanding of character
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Ben Franklin's 13 virtues
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Temperance Silence Order Resolution Frugality Industry Sincerity Justice Moderation Tranquility Cleanliness Chastity Humility
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Most important virtue according to Ben (cause we on that first name level)
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Temperance
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Anecdote made in Biography of Ben
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"a speckled ax was best" p. 145
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Main topic/theme of Biography of Ben
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moral perfection
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According to Ben, when does one move on to the next virtue?
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after they have mastered the previous, then and only then
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What is necessary for the virtues of Ben
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Daily examining Ben wrote down everything he did in a day in a little book
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Hardest virtue for Ben
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Order
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Aphorism or a Proverb
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his is a short statement expressing a wise observation or general truth.
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"Have you somewhat to do tomorrow, do today."
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Do not procrastinate; just get your work done ahead of time so that you don't have to worry about it.
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"A true friend is the best possession."
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Having one true friend is better than having a bunch of fake friends.
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"If your head is wax, don't walk in the sun."
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Use common sense; do not do stupid stuff.
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"No gains without pains."
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You can't achieve anything in life without working for it.
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"A good example is the best sermon."
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It is better to practice what you preach, rather than telling others to do something and you don't do it yourself.
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Franklin believes moral perfection can be attained by what means?
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By being perfect and not sinning
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What is Franklin's reasoning for the order in which he ranks the virtues?
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He arranged them with that view, as they stand above
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Did Franklin believe his moral improvement plan was successful?
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Yes, because he followed his moral plan all of his life suggest that he thought it to be very successful.
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Who were the two people that Benjamin Franklin imitated during his life?
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Franklin imitated Jesus and Socrates.
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What little booklet did Ben write that contained many wise sayings?
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Poor Richards Almanack
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Name two things found in the almanac.
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Weather forecasts, recipes, lunar charts, calendars. aphorisms
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List the institutions Franklin and this club helped create.
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Police force, hospital, fire department, University of Pennsylvania, Library
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What is Franklin's attitude toward moral perfection and what does this goal suggest about the values of the time period?
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he believes he can achieve moral perfection; self confident
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What prompts Franklin to make his list?
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tries to be morally perfect; wants to do it step by step; virtues
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What does Franklin's methodical approach, described in this passage, suggest about his dedication to his plan for self-improvement?
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he is dedicated to his plan and wants to do everything he can to ensure it's success
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what he does at certain times of the day; daily plan or routine
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What does the list here show on the right side? (his daily schedule)
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What does it have on the left side? (his daily schedule)
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Questions such as "What good shall I do today?" Helps him try to reach a goal/do good
