富蘭克林在他的自傳里寫道：“我的目的是養(yǎng)成所有美德的習(xí)慣”?！白詈眠€是在一個(gè)時(shí)期內(nèi)集中精力掌握其中的一種美德。當(dāng)我掌握了一種美德后，接著就開始注意另外一種，這樣下去，直到我掌握了十三種為止。因?yàn)橄全@得的一些美德可以便利其他美德的培養(yǎng)”。 　　

富蘭克林的十三種美德是：

一、節(jié)制：不要吃得像個(gè)傻子，也不要喝得飄飄然。

(1) Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.?

二、沉默：只說那些能讓他人或自己受益的話。避免閑聊。

(2) Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

三、秩序：讓東西各歸其位。給自己的事務(wù)安排好時(shí)間。?

(3) Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

四、決心：下定決心做你應(yīng)該做的。把要解決的問題成功解決掉。

(4) Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

五、節(jié)儉：只花對(duì)他人或自己有益處的錢，就是說不要浪費(fèi)任何東西。

(5) Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

六、勤奮：不要浪費(fèi)時(shí)間。總應(yīng)該有些有用的事來做。取消一切不必要的活動(dòng)。

(6) Industry: Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

七、真誠：不要惡意騙人。以善意和公正為思考的出發(fā)點(diǎn)；而且說話也應(yīng)如此。

(7) Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

八、公正：不應(yīng)當(dāng)去傷害人或因失職而使利益受損。 　　

(8) Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

九、溫和：避免極端，要容忍別人給你的傷害。

(9) Moderation: Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

?十、整潔：保持身體、衣服和住所的整潔。

(10) Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.

十一、冷靜：不因瑣事，普通或不可避免的事故而慌亂。

(11) Tranquility: Be not distuibed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

十二、節(jié)欲：僅為健康和生育的目的行房；不要在此事上犯傻，也不要軟弱，更不要有損于自己或他人的安寧與名聲。

(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.　

十三、謙遜：效仿耶穌和蘇格拉底。

(13) Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

摘自<<本杰明 富蘭克林的自傳>>