the autobiography of ben franklin(本富兰克林自传)-第21章
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in the first week I could keep my first line； marked T； clear of spots； I
suppos'd the habit of that virtue so much strengthen'd and its opposite
weaken'd； that I might venture extending my attention to include the next；
and for the following week keep both lines clear of spots。 Proceeding thus
to the last； I could go thro' a course compleat in thirteen weeks； and four
courses in a year。 And like him who； having a garden to weed； does not
attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once； which would exceed his
reach and his strength； but works on one of the beds at a time； and； having
accomplish'd the first； proceeds to a second； so I should have； I hoped； the
encouraging pleasure of seeing on my pages the progress I made in virtue；
by clearing successively my lines of their spots； till in the end； by a
number of courses； I should he happy in viewing a clean book； after a
thirteen weeks' daily examination。
This my little book had for its motto these lines from Addison's Cato：
〃Here will I hold。 If there's a power above us （And that there is all
nature cries aloud Thro' all her works）； He must delight in virtue； And that
which he delights in must be happy。〃
Another from Cicero；
〃O vitae Philosophia dux！ O virtutum indagatrix expultrixque
vitiorum！ Unus dies； bene et ex praeceptis tuis actus； peccanti
immortalitati est anteponendus。〃
Another from the Proverbs of Solomon； speaking of wisdom or virtue：
〃Length of days is in her right hand； and in her left hand riches and
honour。 Her ways are ways of pleasantness； and all her paths are peace。〃
iii。 16； 17。
And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom； I thought it right
and necessary to solicit his assistance for obtaining it； to this end I formed
the following little prayer； which was prefix'd to my tables of examination；
for daily use。
〃O powerful Goodness！ bountiful Father！ merciful Guide！ increase in
me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest。 strengthen my
resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates。 Accept my kind offices
to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy continual
favors to me。〃
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I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's
Poems； viz。：
〃Father of light and life； thou Good Supreme！ O teach me what is
good； teach me Thyself！ Save me from folly； vanity； and vice； From every
low pursuit； and fill my soul With knowledge； conscious peace； and virtue
pure； Sacred； substantial； never…fading bliss！〃
The precept of Order requiring that every part of my business should
have its allotted time； one page in my little book contain'd the following
scheme of employment for the twenty…four hours of a natural day：
THE MORNING。 ｛ 5 ｝ Rise； wash； and address ｛ ｝ Powerful
Goodness！ Contrive Question。 What good shall ｛ 6 ｝ day's business； and
take the I do this day？ ｛ ｝ resolution of the day； prose… ｛ 7 ｝ cute the
present study； and ｛ ｝ breakfast。 8 ｝ 9 ｝ Work。 10 ｝ 11 ｝
NOON。 ｛ 12 ｝ Read； or overlook my ac… ｛ 1 ｝ counts； and dine。 2 ｝
3 ｝ Work。 4 ｝ 5 ｝
EVENING。 ｛ 6 ｝ Put things in their places。 ｛ 7 ｝ Supper。 Music or
diversion； Question。 What good have ｛ 8 ｝ or conversation。 Examination I
done to…day？ ｛ 9 ｝ of the day。 ｛ 10 ｝ ｛ 11 ｝ ｛ 12 ｝
NIGHT。 ｛ 1 ｝ Sleep。 ｛ 2 ｝ ｛ 3 ｝ ｛ 4 ｝
I enter'd upon the execution of this plan for self…examination； and
continu'd it with occasional intermissions for some time。 I was surpris'd to
find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined； but I had the
satisfaction of seeing them diminish。 To avoid the trouble of renewing
now and then my little book； which； by scraping out the marks on the
paper of old faults to make room for new ones in a new course； became
full of holes； I transferr'd my tables and precepts to the ivory leaves of a
memorandum book； on which the lines were drawn with red ink； that
made a durable stain； and on those lines I mark'd my faults with a black…
lead pencil； which marks I could easily wipe out with a wet sponge。 After
a while I went thro' one course only in a year； and afterward only one in
several years； till at length I omitted them entirely； being employ'd in
voyages and business abroad； with a multiplicity of affairs that interfered；
but I always carried my little book with me。
My scheme of ORDER gave me the most trouble； and I found that；
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tho' it might be practicable where a man's business was such as to leave
him the disposition of his time； that of a journeyman printer； for instance；
it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master； who must mix with
the world； and often receive people of business at their own hours。 Order；
too； with regard to places for things； papers； etc。； I found extreamly
difficult to acquire。 I had not been early accustomed to it； and； having an
exceeding good memory； I was not so sensible of the inconvenience
attending want of method。 This article； therefore； cost me so much painful
attention； and my faults in it vexed me so much； and I made so little
progress in amendment； and had such frequent relapses； that I was almost
ready to give up the attempt； and content myself with a faulty character in
that respect； like the man who； in buying an ax of a smith； my neighbour；
desired to have the whole of its surface as bright as the edge。 The smith
consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel； he turn'd；
while the smith press'd the broad face of the ax hard and heavily on the
stone； which made the turning of it very fatiguing。 The man came every
now and then from the wheel to see how the work went on； and at length
would take his ax as it was； without farther grinding。 〃No；〃 said the smith；
〃turn on； turn on； we shall have it bright by…and…by； as yet； it is only
speckled。〃 〃Yes；〃 said the man； 〃but I think I like a speckled ax best。〃 And
I believe this may have been the case with many； who； having； for want of
some such means as I employ'd； found the difficulty of obtaining good and
breaking bad habits in other points of vice and virtue； have given up the
struggle； and concluded that 〃a speckled ax was best〃； for something； that
pretended to be reason； was every now and then suggesting to me that
such extream nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind of foppery in
morals； which； if it were known； would make me ridiculous； that a perfect
character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and
hated； and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself； to
keep his friends in countenance。
In truth； I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order； and now I
am grown old； and my memory bad； I feel very sensibly the want of it。 But；
on the whole； tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious
of obtaining； but fell far short of it； yet I was； by the endeavour； a better
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and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not
attempted it； as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved
copies； tho' they never reach the wish'd…for excellence of those copies；
their hand is mended by the endeavor； and is tolerable while it continues
fair and legible。
It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little
artifice； with the blessing of God； their ancestor ow'd the constant felicity
of his life； down to his 79th year； in which this is written。 What reverses
may attend the remainder is in the hand of Providence； but； if they arrive；
the reflection on past happiness enjoy'd ought to help his bearing them
with more resignation。 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； and to the joint influence of the whole
mass of the virtues； even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them；
all that evenness of temper； and that cheerfulness in conversation； which
makes his company still sought for； and agreeable even to his younger
acquaintance。 I hope； therefore； that some of my descendants may follow
the example and reap the benefit。 It will be remark'd that； tho' my scheme
was not wholly without religion； there was in it no mark of any of the
distingishing tenets of any particular sect。 I had purposely avoided them；
for； being fully persuaded of the utility and excellency of my method； and
that it might be serviceable to people in all religions； and intending some
time or other to publish it； I would not have any thing in it that should
prejudice any one； of any sect； against it。 I purposed writing a little
comment on each virtue； in which I would have shown the advantages of
possessing it； and the mischiefs attending its opposite vice； and I should
have called my book THE ART OF VIRTUE； because it would have
shown the means and manner of obtaining virtue； which would have
distinguished it from the mere exhortation to be good； that does not
instruct and indicate the means； but is like the apostle's man of verbal
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