Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography Wisdom

Benjamin Franklin was probably the most important man in the development of the United States. He was a very influential figure. Benjamin Franklin, however, was also a man of great wisdom. Like his book The Way to Wealth, where he outlines his financial wisdom, wisdom could be attained from his autobiography. In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin outlines thirteen virtues which he believes to be moral. Although Benjamin Franklin's thirteen virtues may not be all the wisdom found in his autobiography, it is a start for a successful life.

Benjamin Franklin says, “… under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occurr'd to me as necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a short precept, which fully express'd the extent I gave to its meaning.”1However, the annexed perception, though he might believe his intentions were clear and full, may be elaborated on; He does so throughout his book. Also, some of the values Benjamin Franklin mentions in his autobiography could be seen in another one of his books, The Way to Wealth. Although The Way to Wealth is more financially oriented, the lessons learned there could be applied to daily life. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and The Way to Wealth both believe that frugality is an important virtue.

Frugality according to Benjamin Franklin was to "make no expense but to do good to others or yourself,"2 He made sure that everything he spent was for a purpose. Frugality is an important life lesson because financial responsibility becomes a side-effect. Another reason why frugality would be considered important enough to be mentioned in both books is because it is the means to almost all ends; regardless of one's knowing what the ends could be. By being fruga...

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...ates of America. The French would not have come to the colonies rescue and the United States would be just another British colony. Benjamin Franklin was the key to winning the American Revolution, but his wisdom is the key to having a successful life.

Works Cited

Franklin, Benjamin. "Plan For Attaining Moral Perfection." In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Holt and Company: E. Boyd Smith, 1922. 46.

Franklin, Benjamin. "Plan For Attaining Moral Perfection." In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Henry Holt and Company: E. Boyd Smith, 1922. 46.

Franklin, Benjamin. "Beginning Life As A Printer." In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New York Henry Holt and Company: E. Boyd Smith, 1922. 13.

Franklin, Benjamin. "Early Friends in Philadelphia." In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New York Henry Holt and Company: E. Boyd Smith, 1922. 26.