How Do I Become a Better Person? Franklin's Answer

Benjamin Franklin asked himself this question at age 20—and spent the rest of his life answering it. His method for becoming a better person became one of history's most influential self-improvement systems: the 13 virtues.

Franklin didn't become a better person through inspiration or willpower. He became better through system—specific virtues, daily tracking, focused attention, and persistent practice. Here's how to apply his approach to your own life.

Key Takeaways

• Self-improvement requires honest self-examination—most people overestimate their virtue
• Define specific behaviors, not vague aspirations
• Focus on one area at a time, not everything at once
• Track failures—what gets measured gets improved
• Accept imperfection while pursuing improvement

Franklin's Approach to Self-Improvement

At age 20, Franklin conceived what he called:

"The bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time."

He quickly learned this was impossible. But he also learned something more valuable: systematic effort produces real improvement, even without perfection.

Step 1: Honest Self-Examination

Franklin's first discovery was uncomfortable:

"I was surpris'd to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined."

Most people believe they're more virtuous than they are. Psychologists call this the "better-than-average effect." Franklin's tracking system broke through this illusion—he couldn't hide from the marks he made each day.

How to Apply

• Ask trusted friends for honest feedback about your faults
• Track your behavior for one week before trying to change it
• Notice the gap between how you act and how you think you act
• Embrace discomfort—accurate self-knowledge isn't pleasant

Step 2: Define Your Virtues

Franklin didn't try to "be better" in a vague sense. He identified 13 specific char​acter traits and gave each a precise, behavioral definition.

For example:

• Temperance: "Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
• Industry: "Lose no time; be always employed in something useful."
• Silence: "Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself."

These definitions are actionable. At the end of each day, Franklin could assess: Did I eat to dullness? Did I lose time? Did I speak uselessly?

How to Apply

• Identify 5-13 areas of character you want to develop
• Write a specific, behavioral definition for each
• Ask: "Can I tell at day's end if I succeeded or failed?"
• If the answer is no, make the definition more specific

Step 3: Focus Systematically

Franklin didn't work on all 13 virtues simultaneously:

"I determin'd to give a Week's strict Attention to each of the Virtues successively."

Week 1: Temperance only. Week 2: Silence only. After 13 weeks, the cycle restarted. Four complete cycles per year.

Why This Works

• Reduces overwhelm: One focus is manageable; many are paralyzing
• Deepens practice: Concentrated attention builds habits faster
• Creates rhythm: Predictable cycles become automatic

How to Apply

• Choose one virtue to focus on this week
• Give it your primary attention—other virtues get "ordinary chance"
• Next week, move to the next virtue
• After completing all, start over

Step 4: Track Your Failures

Franklin's innovation was tracking failures, not successes:

"I made a little book... and marking on each line by a little black spot every fault I found upon examination."

Each night, he reviewed the day and marked every violation. A clean page—no marks—was the goal. Over time, he watched his marks decrease.

Why Track Failures

• Forces honest assessment—no hiding from reality
• Reveals patterns—when and why you fail
• Shows progress—fewer marks over time motivates
• Creates accountability—you report to yourself nightly

How to Apply

• Use the Ben Franklin Virtues app or a simple journal
• Review each evening before bed
• Mark honestly—rationalizing defeats the purpose
• Aim for fewer marks each week

Step 5: Persist Imperfectly

Franklin never achieved perfection—and said so:

"I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it."

But he added something crucial:

"Yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it."

This is the key mindset. The goal isn't perfection—it'simprovement. You will fail. The question is whether you persist despite failure.

Franklin's 13 Virtues

You can use Franklin's original virtues or create your own. Here are his, with brief definitions:

1. Temperance: Moderation in food and drink
2. Silence: Speak only what benefits
3. Order: Everything in its place and time
4. Resolution: Do what you resolve to do
5. Frugality: Spend only on what brings good
6. Industry: Use time productively
7. Sincerity: No deception, think honestly
8. Justice: Wrong no one
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes
10. Cleanliness: Clean body and environment
11. Tranquility: Don't be disturbed by trifles
12. Chastity: Sexual moderation
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates

For the complete guide to each virtue, see our 13 Virtues Complete List.

The Real Goal: Progress, Not Perfection

Franklin practiced his virtue system for over 50 years. He said he struggled most with Order—never fully conquering his natural disorganization. He admitted faults in Humility too.

But look at his life: from runaway apprentice to wealthy printer by 42, then scientist, diplomat, inventor, and Founding Father. His system worked—not by making him perfect, but by making him better.

That's the answer to "How do I become a better person?": Not through inspiration or willpower, but through system—specific virtues, daily tracking, focused practice, and persistence despite imperfection.

Start Your Practice

Use our Ben Franklin Virtues app to begin your own "bold and arduous project." Track your weekly focus virtue, mark daily faults, and watch yourself become, slowly but visibly, a better person.