The naive image of Franklin:
- industrial and frugal
- lightning and Kite
The complete image of Franklin:
- Family background: commoner emigrated to US
- successful publisher and writer
- influential local leader and politician
- key colony leader and founding father and diplomat
- popular among elite women, failed son and grandson
- practical scientist, engineer, inventor
My take:
- He is REALLY smart, polymath, mastered both science and people, affectionate to everyone
- Although flirt with women, he seems more platonic than erotic.
- As smart, successful and influential as Franklin is, his marriage was practical, his son and grandson failed. And his lineage ended there. On the other hand, his legacy will never die, become part of American spirit.
- The critic view of Franklin in subsequent times does not change who Franklin is, but rather reflect what kind of time it is. Conservatives attacked him not caring about the golden pavement of heaven. Romanticist attacked him only care about money nickel and dimes, not heroic. Now all seems naive.
Franklin is one of the two lines down passed in American cultural history: the pragmatic industrial frugal smart mundane democratic mid class. Not the elitist, religious, conservative.
《道德完善计划》13条
(1)Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
一、节制：食不过饱，饮不过量。
(2)Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
二、缄默：言则于人于己有益，不作鸡毛蒜皮的闲扯。
(3)Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
三、条理：物归其位，做事之前制定时间表，按照计划，在相应的时间内完成应该做的事情。
(4)Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
四、决断：做事应该果断，不要拖泥带水，一旦决定就要付诸行动，还要坚持到底。
(5)Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
五、节俭：不要做无益的花销，杜绝不必要的浪费。
(6)Industry: Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
六、勤勉：不浪费时间，时时刻刻都要用于正经事，戒除一切不必要的行动。
(7)Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
七、诚恳：绝对不可以欺骗他人，考虑问题应公平公正，襟怀坦荡，发表观点时要有理有据，尊重事实。
(8)Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
八、正直：不做有损他人之事，不要放弃履行行善助人的义务，从而伤害他人。
(9)Moderation: Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
九、中庸：为人处事不要极端偏激，对待他人的一时发泄，应当加以宽容，不要斤斤计较、怀恨记仇。
(10)Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
十、清洁：仪表，身体、衣服和住所都应当力求清洁。
(11)Tranquility: Be not distuibed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
十一、沉着：不要因为琐事或者难以避免的不测而烦恼。
(12)Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
十二、贞节：切忌房事过度，以免伤害身体或有损自己或他人的安宁和名誉。
(13)Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
十三、谦虚：效法耶酥和苏格拉底。
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