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Benjamin Franklin Appearance And Reality Essay

628 Words3 Pages

Benjamin Franklin; a renowned printer, author and inventor favored appearance far more than he favored reality. Several times in his Autobiography Franklin discusses ways to better one’s appearance, all the while facing brutal reality. Throughout Franklin’s work he insists on making it clear to his readers that it is not the reality of things that is important, rather the appearance of things that play a more wholesome part in one’s character. Franklin continues to discuss in his Autobiography appearance and how this continues to be an important virtue for an individual to possess. Franklin discusses various ways that an individual can form their appearance to a more perfect individual, if there were such a thing. Franklin discusses the importance of paying off a debt so that he will be able to “secure my Credit and Character as a Tradesman…” (Franklin 523), this statement puts in to perspective that his appearance matters to his reputation as a Tradesman. Franklin also describes what a tradesman must be to be successful-- frugal. Franklin also discusses …show more content…

Among the discussion of the virtues that Franklin believes make a person the most characteristic, he continues to discuss reality and appearance in Part Two of his work. Franklin discusses that he has set a goal “to arriv[e] at moral Perfection.” (Franklin 534). The way that Franklin thought he could reach this goal is forming twelve virtues that he feels everyone should aim to carry: temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chasity, and humility (Franklin 534-535). Franklin formulates a plan for him to keep track of how he is obeying his twelve virtues by keeping a “little Book in which [he] allotted a Page for each of the Virtues” (Franklin 537), making it clear that Franklin believes that appearance is more important than

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1312 Words | 6 Pages

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