What virtues make a good citizen?

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (1728): Benjamin Franklin believed that virtue is more important than learning, wealth, wit, or form in becoming a truly great and valued man. He argued that men of virtue are rare and that being virtuous leads to being truly great and adored by others. "But what is wit, or wealth, or form, or learning, when compared with virtue? ... I pronounce it as certain, that there was never yet a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous." [1]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that thinking rightly is the foundation of all virtue and happiness, and that right action, based on right opinion, is essential for moral behavior. He argued that understanding one's own nature and the relations between people is key to determining what is right and thus to achieving human happiness. (key quote above) [2]
• BELIEF (1731-06-19): Benjamin Franklin believed that temperance, justice, and charity are virtues that make a good citizen, as they are practiced whether with or against one's inclinations and merit love and esteem. He also emphasized that self-denial is virtuous only when applied in the right way, and that perfect virtue is above all temptation. "The truth is, that temperance, justice, charity, &c., are virtues, whether practised with or against our inclinations, and the man who practises them merits our love and esteem;" [3]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that Temperance, Industry, Frugality, Sincerity, and Justice are virtues that contribute to being a good citizen. He ascribes his long-continued health, early easiness of circumstances, acquisition of fortune, knowledge, and reputation among the learned to these virtues, as well as the confidence of his country and the honorable employs it conferred upon him. "To Temperance he ascribes his long-continued health, and what is still left to him of a good constitution; to Industry and Frugality, the early easiness of his circumstances and acquisition of his fortune, with all that knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen, and obtained for him some degree of reputation among the learned; to Sincerity and Justice, the confidence of his country, and the honorable employs it conferred upon him;" [4]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that temperance, justice, and charity are virtues, and that these are essential to being a virtuous person. He argued that self-denial is not the essence of virtue, but rather the practice of these specific virtues, regardless of whether they are performed with or against one's inclinations, is what constitutes true virtue. "The truth is, that temperance, justice, charity, &c., are virtues, whether practised with or against our inclinations, and the man who practises them merits our love and esteem;" [5]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin argues that justice and industry are virtues, and that a person who does not wrong others and remains focused on business is just and industrious. He implies that these traits contribute to being virtuous and, by extension, a good citizen. "If a man has no inclination to wrong people in his dealings, if he feels no temptation to it, and therefore never does it, can it be said that he is not a just man? If he is a just man, has he not the virtue of justice?" [6]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that virtuous and benevolent citizens, who are willing to bestow part of their time in doing good for the rising generation, make a good citizen. "It is presumed that there will always be found in Boston virtuous and benevolent citizens, willing to bestow a part of their time in doing good to the rising generation" [7]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that virtue is essential for a good citizen, as it is the only true happiness of the mind and the best means of preserving the health of the body. He argued that virtue, particularly through temperance and regulation of passions, is necessary for a virtuous and self-approving conduct, which he considered the source of true happiness. "Virtue is the best preservative of health, as it prescribes temperance and such a regulation of our passions as is most conducive to the well-being of the animal economy, so that it is at the same time the only true happiness of the mind and the best means of preserving the health of the body." [8]
• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin believed that Temperance, Industry, Frugality, Sincerity, and Justice are virtues that make a useful citizen. He ascribes his reputation among the learned and the confidence of his country to these virtues. [9]
• BELIEF (1779-05-17): Benjamin Franklin believed that being a 'very good' citizen involves being respected by the people, implying qualities such as virtue, respectability, and contribution to the community. "I shall be glad to find you there on my return as a fellow-citizen, because I believe you will be a very good one, and respected there as such by the people." [10]

What cuts against it

• BELIEF (undated): Benjamin Franklin sarcastically observed that people in Pennsylvania are often portrayed as wicked and quarrelsome when alive but are praised as "good husbands, good fathers, good friends, good citizens, and good Christians" [11] after death, suggesting inconsistency in how virtues are perceived or applied. "when any of you die, to read what good husbands, good fathers, good friends, good citizens, and good Christians you were" [11]

• BELIEF (undated): Franklin acknowledged that virtue is essential for happiness and health, but also noted that earthly objects and desires, if not tempered by virtue, can prevent true happiness, implying that external factors may influence virtue's effectiveness. "If our desires are to the things of this world, they are never to be satisfied." [8]

• BELIEF (undated): Franklin suggested that religion plays a role in cultivating virtue, especially for the weak and inexperienced, which implies that virtue may not always be self-sufficient or universally practiced without religious motivation. "But think how great a portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till it becomes habitual" [12]

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Benjamin Franklin believed that specific virtues such as Temperance, Industry, Frugality, Sincerity, and Justice are essential for being a good citizen. [9]

2. He argued that these virtues contribute to health, reputation, and the confidence of the country, which are necessary for a useful and respected citizen. [4]

3. Franklin also emphasized that right thinking and understanding one's nature and relations to others are foundational to virtue and happiness, which are key to moral behavior. [2]

4. He believed that self-denial is not the essence of virtue, but rather the practice of these specific virtues, regardless of whether they are performed with or against one's inclinations, is what constitutes true virtue. [5]

5. However, he also acknowledged that religion may be necessary for many to cultivate and maintain these virtues, especially among the weak and inexperienced. [12]

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: PARTIAL

The record is silent on whether Franklin believed that all citizens must possess all virtues to be considered good, or whether some virtues are more important than others.

Extrapolation: Benjamin Franklin likely believed that a good citizen is one who practices specific virtues such as Temperance, Industry, Frugality, Sincerity, and Justice. These virtues, according to Franklin, contribute to health, reputation, and the confidence of the country, which are necessary for a useful and respected citizen. He also emphasized the importance of right thinking and understanding one's nature and relations to others as foundational to virtue and happiness.

Competing readings: One reading is that Franklin believed these virtues are essential for all citizens. Another is that he believed religion was necessary for many to cultivate and maintain these virtues, especially among the weak and inexperienced. The record itself states the latter as a dated belief.

Confidence: Moderate, as the record provides clear statements on the virtues he valued but does not address whether all citizens must possess all virtues.