“Be always employed in something useful,” wrote young Benjamin Franklin, promoting the virtue of industry and discouraging the wasting of time. “Cut off all unnecessary actions.” Surely, though, he did not intend that we maintain a perpetual busy-ness just for its own sake. After all, as Thoreau pointed out, “It is not enough… Read more »
My grandmother used to say, “Self-praise is poor recommendation.” Apparently, she was adopting a Latin proverb to tell me that I was being arrogant and that it did not become me. It hurt but it was true. Modesty is hard. Good mental health requires a strong sense of self-worth but it can… Read more »
Are you practicing the virtue of sincerity? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself or your Ben Franklin Circle. Franklin’s definition: “Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.” 1. How would you define sincerity? Does your definition align with Franklin’s? 2. Some might associate the word… Read more »
We usually think of boredom as a bad thing—and it’s not one of the virtues on Ben Franklin’s list. But does boredom have a role in a good and meaningful life? Yes, argues Clive Thompson in this article: “I’M DYING OF Boredom,” complains the young wife, Yelena, in Chekhov’s 1897 play Uncle Vanya. “I… Read more »
Are you practicing the virtue of resolution? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself or your Ben Franklin Circle. Franklin’s definition: “Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” 1. A more contemporary word for resolution might be “grit”—setting goals and accomplishing them no matter what. Do you think of… Read more »
“Turn it and turn it, since everything is in it,” Pirkei Avot instructs us. After four years of rabbinical school, sometimes it feels like turning pages is all I have done – pages of Talmud, Midrash, history, the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong – I am a passionate reader and an… Read more »