Franklin's Thirteen Subjects

1. TEMPERENCE : Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE : Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. ORDER : Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION : Resolve to perform what you ought, perform without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY : Make to expense but to do good to others or yourself ie waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY : Lose no time; be always employed in something useful.

7. SINCERITY : Use no hurtfull deceit; think innocently and justly and if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE : Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION : Avoid extremes, forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS : Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. TRANQUILITY : Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY : Rarely use venery but for health or offspring. Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or anothers peace or reputation.

13. HUMILITY : Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Note: Franklin concentrated on each subject for a week at a time striving to get better at each. After the thirteenth week he would start again at number one.