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
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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