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Benjamin Franklin Should Imitate Jesus And Socrates

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Benjamin Franklin was the embodiment of the American dream. In the book, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin recounts the trials and tribulations of his life. Benjamin’s stated intention of the autobiography was to teach his son about his life, but others believe that Benjamin wrote the book to teach the world to be a great as he was. Benjamin discussions on vanity and morality are truly the crème de la crème of his work. Even as the ideal American, Benjamin was far from perfect.
Benjamin Franklin was vain. He wrote an autobiography in hopes of teaching the world how they can be better individuals. Franklin believed that vanity is such a great quality that it would be odd to not thank God for it. The quote “ I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man …show more content…

In his virtue of humility, Franklin states one should “ Imitate Jesus and Socrates”. Jesus and Socrates are two very prominent figures in today’s world. Jesus represents Christian virtues and practices and Socrates represents classical thought and virtues, but both of these Franklin himself considered extreme. Franklin tells people to live like Jesus and Socrates as a way of telling them to find middle ground between both. Jesus, a child of God dying for the sins of man to restore man, is the very symbol of humility. While Socrates, one of the most prideful philosophers in history, is the very symbol of vanity. Franklin uses his 13th virtue to encourage people to appear humble externally, but remain prideful internally. The appearance of humbleness allows people to receive the need help of others while maintaining their pride. The virtue allowed Franklin to achieve many of the goals of his life and maintain a reputation of respect and

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Summary Of Benjamin Franklin Primary Sources

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In his writing a theme that is most prevalent is that of the American dream. Although not coined that yet, as the United States didn’t exist at the time. But right from the beginning Franklin speaks to the fact that he created his success and fortune from nothing but hard work, and intelligence. When describing Franklin’s Autobiography as a primary source, it is important to note that this theme of the American Dream. Most famously from the Declaration of Independence preamble, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” ( Dec. of Ind. Pre.).

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Summary Of The Founding Father Who Winks At Us

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" We see his reflection in our own time." Benjamin Franklin did not write this someone else did but it explains what Benjamin Franklin acted like and how he was a "people person" instead of a stone cold

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Benjamin Franklin Rhetorical Analysis

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He uses several allusions in order to bring other events and people to mind. Franklin wants to “...Imitate Jesus and Socrates” (143). He is also basing his methods of self-examination on Pythagoras’s. These historical figures are well-known by the general public. Mentioning these figures helps audiences know that Franklin wants to be wise, kind, and humble, and that he also is going to be orderly and self-reflective.

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Similarities Between Frederick Douglass And Benjamin Franklin

1607 Words | 7 Pages

Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass wrote their autobiographies both during pivotal moments in history. Both men strive to, not only share the experiences of their lives, but also create a profound impact on society. They are particularly concerned with public impression, both have very specific goals, and both have limitations in achieving these goals, either by circumstance or vice. Although, from a broad point of view they have these similar intentions, they represent two very different aspects of the early American experience, and ultimately have little in common. Franklin, seeks to show men how to become exemplary citizens, and Americans, in a country coming into it’s own identity, whereas Douglass, endeavors to show a young nation,

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Benjamin Franklin's Ethos In Speech In The Convention

518 Words | 3 Pages

Franklin claims that he has been living long enough to see errors that he made, therefore as he grow older, he tend to “doubt of [his] own judgment” because nobody is perfect due to his past experiences (43). The informations that Franklin presents is to show his reputation that he is not perfect, also his constitution but he is open minded and willing to make what is best for the people. The perspective errors of the constitution have, is being “sacrificed to the public good” meaning all the flaw that constitution have will not be reveal to the people (44). Franklin is very passion about what is best for the people and their happiness, furthermore his characteristic is very respectful toward the citizen and the congress.

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Benjamin Franklin: Tragic Hero Or An Archetypal American?

631 Words | 3 Pages

Benjamin Franklin is known to be an “Archetypal American,” because of his beliefs on religion, self-improvement, hard work, and determination; but also his somewhat prideful spirit. Much of modern America is quite similar to Franklin in his actions throughout his lifetime. In his early years, Franklin’s father, Josiah, had a set plan for what he was supposed to do with his life, as a minister. Soon into his education, he found an interest in reading and writing, so he began pursuing a career in printing.

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Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography: Significant Model Of The American Dream

438 Words | 2 Pages

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography was a significant model of the “American dream.” Franklin shared his life during the younger years of America, which went on to have a profound and indelible mark on society and the country as we know it today. Benjamin Franklin created this foundation, and it later became a roadmap for the “American dream” through his actions of upward socioeconomic mobility, and desire to improve the common good. Using his own life as a model, Franklin proved that, in America, people had the ability to build themselves up through hard work. Benjamin Franklin grew up in a meager house in Boston with his 16 older siblings.

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Analysis Of Benjamin Franklin's First Rule: Finish Better Than Your Beginnings

455 Words | 2 Pages

For example for being ignorant on any subject or making errors. In my opinion, I feel that Franklin is trying to say that people who are great managers or people that are highly recognize, didn’t necessarily have great beginnings. Even though some of those people may not have come from great beginnings, they still have humbled themselves during the process of getting to the top. For example, our very own president, President Barack Obama, didn’t have a great beginning but has always remained humbled throughout the many positions that he has held.

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Comparing Franklin's Autobiography, The Way To Wealth And

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This quote suggests that Franklin thought if he was frugal people would respect him more. “The Way to Wealth” and The Autobiography prove that Franklin defined one aspect of American identity as being frugal. Tyler’s definition of what it means to be an American also includes frugality. Tyler’s characters with American

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Benjamin Franklin's Accomplishments

568 Words | 3 Pages

“He was, during his eighty-four-year-long life America’s best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer and business strategist, and he was also one of its most practical…political thinks.” (Isaacson, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life) Franklin also took to himself to better the public, he founded a college and started libraries. He formed a volunteer fire department and came up with the idea of a matching grant. He also wrote some of the first “self-help” books in colonial America.

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Benjamin Franklin: An Archetype Of American Identity

1312 Words | 6 Pages

Benjamin Franklin: The Archetypal American Modern American identity revolves around self improvement. Americans seek to improve themselves in all areas of life, be it socially, financially, or physically. Americans accomplish these goals through education and observing the successes of others. Benjamin Franklin, a man who is frequently admired by fellow Americans, embodies many of these qualities and, as such, has become an archetype of success and of what it means to be American. Benjamin Franklin is an archetypal American because of his values of self-improvement, community-mindedness, and frugality.

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Examples Of Benjamin Franklin's View Of Human Nature

637 Words | 3 Pages

I cross'd these columns with thirteen red lines, marking the beginning of each line with the first letter of one of the virtues, on which line, and in its proper column, I might mark, by a little black spot, every fault I found upon examination to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day." (Franklin 79). This is so-called the "moral perfection" of Benjamin Franklin that he followed strictly to train himself. In his reading and self searching, these are the virtues that he hope it could benefit people from all religions. "My list of virtues at first contains but 12; but a Quaker friend having kindly informing me that i was generally thought proud...and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning of the word."

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Benjamin Franklin Quote Analysis

1245 Words | 5 Pages

Finally, to culminate his quote, Franklin states, “...to whom you must account…” denoting a consummate topic of humanity. The answer to this maxim is ostentatious: yourself. While this notion may appear to be cliche, it represents ingenuity and perspicacity in Franklin’s

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Benjamin Franklin 13 Virtues Analysis

415 Words | 2 Pages

Franklin listed the ways and descriptions of what one should do to fall into having these as common everyday habits. Once trained to follow the virtues, by working on a specific one each week, man would be able to prove he was a paragon for the society. Franklin and his 13 virtues may not have represented the individuals of the day, but was a representation of what the “old lights” should and wanted to be

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How Did Benjamin Franklin Contribute To The American Dream

458 Words | 2 Pages

Benjamin Franklin: The Inventor of the American Dream Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States. He was a brilliant and a creative man. He was experienced in many different fields. For example, he was an important diplomat, a talented inventor, and a famous author after publishing his own autobiography. In general, he was a polymath who had an important role in the early life of America.

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