Benjamin Franklin

On page 49 of the biography of Benjamin Franklin, the author lists the resolutions that young Ben made in his Plan for Future Conduct: 1. It is necessary for me to be frugal until I have paid what I owe. 2. To endeavor to speak truth in every instance; to give nobody expectations that are not likely to be answered, but aim at sincerity in every word and action--the most amiable excellence in a rational being 3. To apply myself industriously to whatever business I take in hand, and not divert my mind from my business by any foolish project of suddenly growing rich; for industry and patience are the surest means of plenty. 4. I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever. The author of the book adds that Franklin never mastered # 2 and # 4 although he continued to preach them and generally make a show of practicing them. Sooooooo...that makes me smile.....because it means that even great men like Franklin don't always live up to their grand ideals. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try. It just means that we shouldn't beat ourselves up when we fail. Another fable that Franklin tells has the moral that it is foolish to try to avoid all criticism: A father and son travel with a donkey. When the father rode and made the son walk, some criticized. They were also criticized when the son rode and the father walked. They were criticized when both rode or none rode. So finally they threw the donkey off a bridge.