Years ago I saw an interview with Elon Musk I really enjoyed. When asked what books inspired him, he mentioned Ben Franklin's Autobiography.
My ears perked up immediately. I had just been researching Ben's Junto club but never really studied the man himself. Which is strange, considering he founded the very first university in America, one I was privileged to attend.
I loved this book!
I can relate to Ben Franklin because of the faults he had. He basically ran away from Boston after steam rolling some people and destroying his reputation. I was inspired by what he did to change himself. He was a man full of wisdom, inspiration, diligence, and virtue.
If you saw my last post, you know I value reputation.
I'll add some of my favorite quotes below. Hopefully they will inspire you to give the book a read. If you're an entrepreneur, I highly recommend it.
On Communication and Persuasion
Retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest diffidence; never using, when I advanced any thing that may possibly be disputed, the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather say, I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons; or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not mistaken. This habit, I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade men.
My wife often berates me about communicating my opinion as fact. I'm not that great at controlling the words I use, but I am getting better. I forget how powerful words can be. To completely remove definitive words from one's vocabulary is inspiring. I need to learn the art of thinking before I speak.
When another asserted something that I thought an error, I deny'd myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition; and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appear'd or seem'd to me some difference, etc.
Speaking of those who love to be contrary:
...these disputing, contradicting, and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They get victory sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of more use to them.
The chief ends of conversation are to inform or to be informed, to please or to persuade.
If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix'd in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error.
Men should be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos'd as things forgot;
On Virtues and Self Improvement
This quote actually made me LOL:
It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection.
What blew me away further was the systematic process he went through over a period of decades to achieve this goal. The dude made his own spreadsheets on paper! The virtues he pursued were:
- Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
- Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
- Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
It's safe to say Ben Franklin helped change the world. Those 13 virtues may explain why.
Throughout the book, he mentions many vices, but I found it interesting he specifically called out debt:
...which exposes a man to confinement, and a species of slavery to his creditors.
On Pride and Humility
In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.
Battling my pride (which goes hand-in-hand with my man-pleasing and insecurities) is a constant activity. Glad to know I'm not the only one.
On Entrepreneurship
I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.
Business partnerships are indeed hard, and they usually fail, but I've had a successful one for over 9 years now. Properly communicating expectations is so important.
Partnerships often finish in quarrels; but I was happy in this, that mine were all carried on and ended amicably, owing, I think, a good deal to the precaution of having very explicitly settled, in our articles, every thing to be done by or expected from each partner, so that there was nothing to dispute, which precaution I would therefore recommend to all who enter into partnerships; for, whatever esteem partners may have for, and confidence in each other at the time of the contract, little jealousies and disgusts may arise, with ideas of inequality in the care and burden of the business, etc., which are attended often with breach of friendship and of the connection, perhaps with lawsuits and other disagreeable consequences.
Oh, and he had an opinion on patents too:
That, as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.
I could probably go on and on... but you get the idea. It's a good book by an incredible man.
I'm amazed at how many areas of our daily life Ben Franklin influenced. Like him, I also want to make a difference in the world and be significant. Learning what worked for him seems like a good place to start.
Ben Franklin was a great man, i will study his autobiographies.
Ben franklin once said that pampers and politicians are the same because they both stink. The man was a true visionary.
I like Mark Twain's version... or was it Ben Franklin? Finding conflicting sources online.
Reagan's auto-biography was solid. Even someone who hates him could learn something from how he dealt with adversarial interactions with others.
Franklin is one of those names I know a lot about but not enough apparently... I learned a hell of a lot in this post.
Another good post Luke. I am coming to expect this from you. If the day comes you don't have the greatest of posts you've earned many reprieves. :)
As to words not to use when talking. I've also found ABSOLUTES can be triggers for contention. "You ALWAYS say that", "You NEVER do that".
"That will NEVER happen."
"That ALWAYS happens."
"They are ALWAYS wrong."
I try to avoid these (fail sometimes) as they are like a landmine I see. As soon as you say them all the other person needs to do is recall one case where that absolute was not true and they may cease to consider any further points you made.
I've found that absolutes are generally pretty rare. So using them is something people should be careful about. Your quotes from Ben Franklin made me think of the many musings I've had on this.
I usually replace ALWAYS with MOST. I'll replace NEVER with something like RARELY.
This is assuming I notice it and catch it before I blurt it out.
Hopefully I won't disappoint you. :)
Really great point about NEVER and ALWAYS. Those words can be toxic to learning because it can remove the possibility for change. I love Franklin's "It appears to be" and such. I hope I can learn to talk that way even more.
All we can do is try to improve. You as a person are unlikely (not an absolute... did you see that) to disappoint me. You may post something that I don't care for, but you've already got my respect as a person so I follow your posts and will continue to do so. If you get in accident and suffer brain damage, get hit by lightning, and your brain makes a sudden dramatic change it could happen. Yet that is unlikely. :) Keep up the great work Luke.
Haha! Let's hope my brain stays intact. :)
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Thanks!
You are welcome!
We need Ben Franklin now. We need him in our times. The world becomes worse. Ok let me correct, the world becomes better but the government gets worse
Steven Pinker's research makes a good argument the world is getting better. Unfortunately, he also thinks a strong government is part of that. On that point, I think I disagree with him.
My puppy approves of this message as well XD
Hahah! Nice.
Great post. I've always thought Franklin was a cool cat and these are all informative quotes. If your interested in the subject, one of my favorite authors, Jill Lepore wrote a book about his sister called The Book of Ages. If that sounds boring, I promise its not! Totally worth a look if your into American history. http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/216914/book-of-ages-by-jill-lepore/9780307948830/
Cool, thank you!
I liked his essay "A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity" (http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-01-02-0028). Also his essay on moral lessons from the game of chess (https://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/benjamin-franklin-on-the-morals-of-chess).
I'll check them out, thanks!
I've just finished reading Franklin's autobiography. Such a great man.
Really interesting. It's amazing how much continuity there is between the philosophy of the scientific greats and zen philosophy or the Chinese tradition - paring your actions down to the essentials and eschewing pride etc. I'll seek this book out.
Very well said. The ancients learned a thing or two we could all benefit from. :)
Yes, I definitely think that smart people from all eras and places gravitate towards a core of ideas that end up looking remarkably similar. I'm planning to read some Stoic philosophy next because that sounds pretty interesting.
good content is replicated. why not read the biography of Musk by Ashlee Vance? another great one would be Schwarzenegger's Total Recall. there are the top, though there are many more...
I love Musk's biography. There are so many great books out there I've read and should do write ups on. I've heard Total Recall is a good read. I'll have to add that one to my list. Thanks!
That's fascinating. Sharing his name, I feel I should know more about him than I currently do.
There's a reason he is on the $100 bill and it was not by accident.
Anyone that gets a nod from Elon Musk is definitely worth reading about.
While I have trouble believing everything Musk has to say (who knows who is right for sure), I find him extremely innovative and there is no denying his creativity. I would love to read a book about him.
While I would like to read this book sometime, I fear that some of the prose/language may prohibit me from reading it at a very consistent pace and I may get discouraged, but I will give it a shot.
Autobiographies and Biographies are fascinating. I can't imagine you wouldn't have read Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, but it may be the most interesting book I have ever read.
Always a treat to see your name in my feed @lukestokes
Thanks Ben! :) Yeah, I really enjoyed Elon's autobiography.
As for Unbroken, WOW. 26,904 customer reviews at 5 stars? I just purchased it on Audible. My book list is starting to get out of control. Hurray for 3x speed! :)
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Very cool! Thank you.