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Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and SuccessBenjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

 

Benjamin Franklin (1706-90)

 

American politician (pictured right, who helped to draw up the American Constitution),

Philosopher (usually writing under the pseudonym of Poor Richard),

Diplomat and inventor.

 

For more detail see... 

The American Declaration of Independence in the History Highlights section.

 

What did he say about happiness and success?

 Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

1. Be good

Integrity and moral virtue are more important than anything else.

So be;

  • kind, fair and honest.
  • sincere and humble.
  • patient and self-disciplined.

Franklin always asked himself at the start and end of each day:Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

  • what good shall I do? and
  • what good have I done? 

Enjoy yourself but:

  • spend your money wisely.
  • save and avoid extravagance.

If you buy what you want, you will end up selling what you need.

 

2. Make your dreams come true

  • work hard. Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success
  • do something worthwhile in your work and leisure (it is better to have a useful life than die rich)
  • seize your opportunities and overcome any problems.
  • don’t dream of the future, but do something now.
  • remember that small things are necessary for big dreams.

 

3. Be creative

  • love new ideas and try them out.
  • find solutions to people’s problems.

Franklin invented the lightning conductor, the stove, bi-focal spectacles and a soup bowl that didn’t spill in ships!

 

4. Lifelong learningBenjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

  • listen to and act upon other people’s wisdom.
  • learn from continuous observation and experimentation.

For example, Franklin discovered that lightning is electrical by flying a kite in a thunderstorm.

 Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

5. Stay healthy

  • get enough sleep.
  • don’t let your work harm your health.

Franklin said famously:

“Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.


 

6. Use your time well

You must take full advantage of every moment, because life is short.

 Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

7. Peace of mind

  • have a clear conscience (by following your principles).
  • don’t worry about little things or unavoidable problems.

 

8. Change

Never stop reinventing yourself by:Benjamin Franklin - Philosophy, Happiness and Success

  • adapting to changing circumstances.
  • exploiting your opportunities.


 

Key quotes on success

God helps them that help themselves.

Diligence is the mother of good luck.

 

Key quote on health

Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

 

Key quotes on time management

Do not squander time, for that’s the stuff that life is made of.

Time is money.

Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.

 

Key quote on corporate culture

We must, indeed, hang together, or assuredly, we shall all hang separately (at the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 1776).

 

Key quote on change

When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.

 

Key quote on negotiating

Necessity never made a good bargain.

 

Key quote on money and happiness

Wealth is not his who has it but he who enjoys it.

The way to wealth depends on just two words: industry and frugality

 

Key quote on death

Nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes

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