What Is Temperance? Benjamin Franklin's First Virtue Explained

Of all the virtues Benjamin Franklin could have placed first in his famous list of 13, he chose temperance. Not courage. Not wisdom. Not justice.Temperance—the quiet discipline of moderation in eating and drinking.

This choice was deliberate. Franklin understood something that ancient philosophers from Aristotle to the Buddha had taught for millennia: self-control in the simplest daily acts creates the foundation for every other form of excellence.

In this guide, you'll discover what Franklin meant by temperance, how it compares to the teachings of history's greatest thinkers, and how you can apply this foundational virtue to your life today.

Key Takeaways

• Franklin defined temperance as: "Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation."
• He placed it first because it creates the clear-headedness needed for all other virtues
• Aristotle, Plato, Epicurus, and the Stoics all emphasized temperance as fundamental
• Temperance is about moderation, not abstinence—enjoying things in balance
• Modern applications include managing screen time, social media, and consumption habits

What Did Benjamin Franklin Say About Temperance?

In his Autobiography, Franklin provides both his definition and his reasoning for making temperance the cornerstone of his virtue system:

"Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation."

This deceptively simple precept contains profound wisdom. Franklin didn't advocate for fasting or abstinence from alcohol. Instead, he counseledmoderation—eating enough to nourish but not so much as to become sluggish, drinking enough to enjoy but not so much as to lose one's faculties.

Why Temperance Comes First

Franklin was explicit about why temperance earned the top position:

"Temperance first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up."

His reasoning was practical: a person who overeats feels sluggish; a person who overdrinks loses judgment. In either state, practicing the other twelve virtues— Silence, Order, Resolution, and the rest—becomes nearly impossible. Temperance provides the mental clarity that makes all other self-improvement possible.

Franklin's Personal Practice

As a young man in Philadelphia, Franklin was known for his frugal eating habits. He often took simple meals alone while his colleagues dined on meat and beer, using the extra time to read and study. He later credited this temperance with giving him the energy and mental acuity that fueled his remarkable productivity.

The Ancient Wisdom: Temperance Through the Ages

Franklin was not the first to recognize temperance as foundational. The world's greatest philosophical traditions have echoed this teaching for thousands of years.

Aristotle's Golden Mean

The Greek philosopher Aristotle (384–322 BCE) considered temperance (sophrosyne) one of the four cardinal virtues. In his Nicomachean Ethics, he taught that virtue lies in finding the "golden mean" between extremes:

"Temperance is a mean with regard to pleasures."

For Aristotle, the temperate person finds the middle path between overindulgence (eating or drinking too much) and insensibility (denying oneself legitimate pleasures). True temperance isn't joyless restriction—it's the wisdom to enjoy pleasures in their proper measure.

Plato's Harmony of the Soul

Plato, Aristotle's teacher, described temperance as the harmony of the soul inThe Republic. He envisioned the soul as having three parts—reason, spirit, and appetite—with temperance being the state where reason governs appetite appropriately.

When we lack temperance, Plato argued, our appetites rule us. We become slaves to our cravings rather than masters of ourselves.

Epicurus: Pleasure Through Moderation

Epicurus (341–270 BCE) is often misunderstood as an advocate of hedonism. In reality, he taught that the greatest pleasure comes through moderation:

"Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance."

Epicurus understood that excess diminishes pleasure. The tenth cookie doesn't taste as good as the first. By practicing moderation, we actually increaseour enjoyment of life's pleasures.

Stoic Self-Mastery

The Stoic philosopher Seneca (4 BCE–65 CE) connected temperance directly to freedom:

"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."

For the Stoics, temperance was about reducing desires rather than accumulating more. The person who needs less is richer than the person who has more but always wants more.

The Buddha's Middle Way

Eastern philosophy offers a parallel teaching. The Buddha taught the "Middle Way" (Majjhimā Paṭipadā) as the path between extreme asceticism and sensual indulgence. After nearly starving himself through extreme fasting, the Buddha discovered that balance—not self-denial—leads to enlightenment.

What Makes Franklin's Approach Different?

While Franklin drew on ancient wisdom, his approach to temperance had distinctive characteristics that set it apart.

Practical, Not Theoretical

Aristotle wrote philosophical treatises about temperance. Franklin created atracking system. He wasn't interested in debating the nature of moderation—he wanted to practice it daily and measure his progress.

Each evening, Franklin would review his day and mark a black dot for any lapse in temperance. His goal was simple: fewer dots each week.

The Weekly Focus System

Franklin dedicated one full week to each virtue before moving to the next. During his "Temperance Week," he gave this virtue his primary attention while maintaining the others as secondary.

This systematic approach allowed for deep practice. Rather than trying to master all virtues simultaneously—an overwhelming task—Franklin built them one at a time, with temperance always as the foundation.

Measurable Self-Improvement

Perhaps most revolutionary was Franklin's insistence on measurement. He didn't simply hope to become more temperate. He tracked his lapses, counted them, and worked systematically to reduce them over time.

This proto-scientific approach to personal development was centuries ahead of its time and anticipates modern habit-tracking apps and quantified self-movement.

Temperance in the Modern World: A 21st Century Interpretation

Franklin faced the temptations of Philadelphia taverns and abundant colonial fare. We face challenges he could never have imagined—yet his principle of moderation applies perfectly.

Digital Temperance

Today's most pressing temperance challenges may not involve food or drink at all. Consider the modern equivalents of "eating to dullness":

• Social media — Scrolling until hours have vanished
• Streaming services — "Just one more episode" until 2 AM
• News consumption — Doom-scrolling that elevates anxiety
• Gaming — Sessions that extend far beyond enjoyment

Franklin would likely update his precept for the digital age: "Consume not to dullness. Scroll not to elevation (of cortisol)."

Consumer Temperance

Modern marketing is designed to override our natural sense of enough. We're encouraged to buy more, want more, and upgrade constantly. Practicing temperance today means:

• Pausing before impulse purchases
• Distinguishing between wanting and needing
• Finding satisfaction in sufficiency
• Resisting the upgrade treadmill

How to Practice Temperance Today

Start with Franklin's original domain—food and drink—then expand outward:

1. Eat slowly — Give your body time to signal fullness
2. Set limits before you start — Decide how much before the first bite or sip
3. Track your consumption — What gets measured gets managed
4. Create friction — Make excess harder to achieve (smaller plates, app limits)
5. Practice regularly — Temperance is a muscle that strengthens with use

Our Ben Franklin Virtues app helps you track your daily practice of temperance and all 13 virtues, just as Franklin did with his little book.

Related Virtues

Continue your exploration of Franklin's virtue system:

• → Silence: Franklin's Second Virtue
• The Complete List of Franklin's 13 Virtues