What did Franklin mean by sincerity?

Franklin defined sincerity as: 'Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.' It combines inner truthfulness (thinking justly) with outer honesty (speaking truthfully).

How is sincerity different from honesty?

Honesty typically means not lying. Franklin's sincerity goes deeper: it includes 'hurtful' deceit (not all deception is harmful), inner thought ('think innocently and justly'), and speech that reflects thought ('speak accordingly').

What did Kant say about lying?

Kant argued lying is always wrong because it treats others as mere means rather than ends. His 'categorical imperative' holds that we should act only according to principles we could will to be universal laws—and universal lying is self-defeating.

Is it ever okay to be insincere?

Franklin's qualifier 'hurtful' suggests some deceptions may not be harmful. White lies, surprise parties, tactical silence in diplomacy—Franklin, the master diplomat, likely made room for benign insincerity while prohibiting harmful deceit.

How can I be more sincere in relationships?

Practice by saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Avoid flattery. Give honest feedback kindly. Keep commitments. Let your actions match your words. When you don't know something, say so rather than pretending.

Back to The Franklin Journal

The Virtues

What Is Sincerity? Franklin's Seventh Virtue on Truthfulness

Use no hurtful deceit. Learn what Kant, Aristotle, and Confucius taught about honest living and authentic speech.

9 min read

•

January 26, 2026

In an age of personal branding and curated personas, Benjamin Franklin's seventh virtue—Sincerity—feels almost radical. It asks us to align thought, word, and deed into authentic wholeness.

Franklin wasn't naive about politics or diplomacy. Yet he placed sincerity among his core virtues. Understanding what he meant reveals why.

Key Takeaways

Franklin defined sincerity as: "Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
Sincerity includes both inner truthfulness (thinking justly) and outer honesty (speaking truthfully)
Kant, Aristotle, and Confucius all emphasized sincere truthfulness as foundational to virtue
Franklin balanced sincerity with tact—avoiding "hurtful" deceit, not all strategic silence

What Did Benjamin Franklin Say About Sincerity?

"Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
— Benjamin Franklin

Notice the structure: First, avoid hurtful deceit (qualifier matters). Second, cultivate innocent, just thinking (inner sincerity). Third, speak in accordance with thought (outer sincerity).

Why "Hurtful" Matters

Franklin didn't say "use no deceit." He said "no hurtful deceit." As a diplomat who secured French alliance, he understood that not all concealment causes harm. The prohibition is on deceit that injures.

The Ancient Wisdom on Sincerity

Kant: The Categorical Imperative

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) argued that lying is always wrong because it uses others as mere means:

"Act only according to that maxim whereby you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law."
— Kant

Aristotle: The Mean Between Boasting and Self-Deprecation

Aristotle saw truthfulness as the mean between boastfulness (claiming more than true) and self-deprecation (claiming less). The sincere person represents themselves accurately.

Confucius: Sincerity as Foundation

Confucius placed sincerity (cheng) at the foundation of virtue:

"Sincerity is the way of Heaven... to become sincere is the way of man."
— Doctrine of the Mean

Practice Franklin's System Today

Track your virtues with the same method Franklin used—now in a beautiful iOS app with morning reflections and evening reviews.

Get the App

What Makes Franklin's Approach Different?

Inner and Outer Sincerity

Franklin's "think innocently and justly" addresses the interior. We can speak truth while harboring resentment, jealousy, or malice. True sincerity aligns inner thought with outer expression.

The Diplomat's Wisdom

Franklin demonstrated how to be sincere while being tactful. He didn't blurt every thought—but what he said reflected what he genuinely believed.

Sincerity in the Modern World

The Authenticity Paradox

Modern culture celebrates "authenticity" while demanding constant performance. Social media creates curated personas that may not reflect inner reality. Franklin's sincerity cuts through: genuine alignment of inner and outer self.