Do you think it is possible to strive all your life to be morally perfect? Well, in The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and aphorisms from Poor Richard's Almanac he believed in the perfectibility of man, and wise statements on how to become it. He expressed that if humans exemplified silence, order, and humility among others through their actions they could become successful and morally perfect. Benjamin Franklin was a man who journeyed through life striving to become morally perfect and the virtues he expressed can help everyone do that.
Benjamin Franklin's perfectibility of man means that a human can be perfect; if you achieve the virtues he described. The first characteristic he acquired and establish was silence. He himself said it was easy. Silence means speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. In simple terms this means don't talk unless you have something intelligent or meaningful to say, don't gossip, and don't just converse because you know you can.
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This (attributed to ) originally appeared during t...He also said that, "...in conversation it (silence) was obtained rather by the use of ears than of the tongue" (106).
Another characteristic here explained was order. And he expressed it on many different occasions. Order means let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. In simple terms, meaning everything has its place and belongs somewhere. Be organized and structured basically on top of your business and affairs. An example of this was when he said, "...requiring every part if my business should have its allotted time" (107), Franklin said order gave him the most trouble because he had not been early accustomed to it.
The last virtue I found particularly essential was humility. Which means to imitate Jesus and Socrates. This is the most significant to me...