Politicians and Virtue--An Oxymoron of Our Time

I'm not going to go off like a maniac on the RIDICULOUSNESS of the government this past week.  If you want to hear about that, I suggest you check out the latest episode of HFK Presents: 5 Minutes of History .

No, I'm going to talk about a politician and statesman who, while not perfect by any means, gave thought to living a virtuous life.  That statesman was Benjamin Franklin.  Franklin was known for so many things during his life, that many times it is forgotten that he spent a great deal of time contemplating how to live a better life.

He certainly had his peccadilloes during the course of his life, and many in the Continental Congress did not appreciate his homespun anecdotes he told to get his point across, but there were no flies on Ben!  He tried to live his life virtuously.


Ben wrote in his Autobiography,  of the 13 virtues one should try to live by. Here is a brief synapses:

1.  Temperance.  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 no expense but to do good to your selves or others.  i.e. Waste nothing.
6.  Industry. Lose no time.  Be always employed in something useful.  Cut off all unnecessary  
     actions.
7.  Sincerity.  Use no harmful 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 uncleanness 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
      injury of you own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

He also felt one should ask two questions every day.  One in the morning "What good shall I do this day?" and one in the evening "What good have I done today?"


I bet I could sit until the cows came home to find a politician today who lived by the same principles. Truly, I don't know if I could either, but I think I might do a better job than the elected officials in Washington.

 To my young readers, remember, you have to live your life as if the person you admire the most is watching you 24/7.  Would you ever ever want to let that person down?  Would you ever want to look back on your life 20 years from now and be ashamed?