Benjamin Franklin

Known for both his self-discipline and his sense of humor, Benjamin

Franklin was famous for his many accomplishments, including his

inventions.

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Printer, inventor, scientist, writer, politician, and ambassador - Benjamin Franklin was all
of these and more. He invented things we still use today, and changed the history of his
nation. How did he do it? By being self-disciplined, he said. Ben Franklin actually set out
to make himself a better person, and his efforts seemed to work.
Ben was born in the United States when it was still a British colony. He was a clever boy
with a sense of humor; he used to write anonymous letters to his brother’s newspaper that
were so funny and biting that everyone wondered who the author could be.
Young Ben was determined to be a success. He made himself a list of good character
traits he thought would help him succeed, and he practiced each one for a week at a time.
His list was: temperance (not eating or drinking too much); silence (only saying what is
useful); order (keeping things in their places and doing things at the right time);
resolution (always keeping your word); frugality (not wasting money); industry (working
hard and making good use of your time); sincerity (not being hurtful or lying); justice
(doing what’s right); moderation (not too much of anything); cleanliness (body, clothes,
and house); tranquility (staying calm when things go wrong); chastity (being pure with
sex); and humility (not bragging).
Ben Franklin’s self-discipline helped him to become a successful printer with his own