On Virtue

The Virtuous Life: Chastity

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the twelfth post in a series about living Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. Editor’s Note: Before we get to the post, allow me to head off the would be [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Tranquility

by Brett

This is the eleventh post in a series about living Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. “TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.” Every day we encounter a thousand little annoyances. Some jerk cuts us off on the way to work, we get a flat tire, someone takes our lunch out of [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Cleanliness

by Brett & Kate McKay

This a 10th post in a series about the Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. A common stereotype that society places on males is that of the sloppy and unkempt man. We see it all the time on television. A man sitting in his man chair with potato [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Justice

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the eighth post in a series on living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. “JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.” Man is a social animal. Everyday we interact with people in different capacities and relationships. In order to ensure that these interactions go smoothly, human [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Sincerity

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the seventh in a series of posts on Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. Photo by klbndc SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. These days, “sincerity” has come to be narrowly defined and almost entirely associated with “earnestness” and the state of being truly interested in [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Industry

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the sixth in a series of posts on Ben Franklin’s 13 virtues. Photo by Lewis Hine Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions. If you spend any time on the web, you probably have heard of Tim Ferris‘ book “The Four Hour Work Week.” In the [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Frugality

by Brett

Americans’ are saving their money at the lowest rate in 73 years-the lowest rate since the Great Depression. The national personal savings rate was negative (!) 1% in 2006. That means that as a whole, the country is spending more than it is taking in. With the economy on a downhill slide, Americans may start [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Resolution

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the fourth in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. If you are to succeed in life, you must develop the virtue of resolution. Resolution is the firm determination to accomplish what you set out to [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Silence

by Brett & Kate McKay

Photo by Millie Motts This is the second in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; Avoid trifling Conversation. Clearly, Ben was not referring to monastic solitude when he presented silence as a virtue. Instead, he had in mind the ability [...]

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The Virtuous Life: Temperance

by Brett & Kate McKay

This is the first in a series of posts about living the virtuous life like Benjamin Franklin. Is there a less sexy idea today than temperance? Yet when Benjamin Franklin began his pursuit of the virtuous life, it was this virtue he chose to concentrate on first. The way in which Ben ordered his 13 [...]

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Lessons In Manliness: Benjamin Franklin’s Pursuit of the Virtuous Life

by Brett and Kate McKay

When most people today hear the word “virtue,” they usually don’t think “manliness.” Having virtue or being virtuous is looked at as being sissy or effeminate. In fact, we sometimes use the word in today’s vernacular to describe a woman’s sexual conduct. However, virtue is far from being sissy or effeminate. The word “virtue” is [...]

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