What did Franklin mean by tranquility?

Franklin defined tranquility as: 'Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.' It means maintaining inner peace by not letting small annoyances or inevitable misfortunes disrupt your equanimity.

What is Stoic tranquility?

The Stoics called it 'ataraxia'—freedom from emotional disturbance. They achieved it through the 'dichotomy of control': accepting what you cannot change while focusing energy on what you can influence.

How do I stop worrying about small things?

Ask: Will this matter in a year? Is this within my control? Is my reaction proportional to the event? Most 'trifles' fail these tests. Tranquility comes from recognizing when disturbance exceeds what circumstances warrant.

What is the dichotomy of control?

Epictetus taught that some things are 'up to us' (our judgments, choices, reactions) and some are not (external events, others' opinions). Peace comes from focusing only on what we can control.

How can I develop inner peace like Franklin?

Practice daily: pause before reacting to frustrations; ask if this is a trifle or truly important; accept what you cannot change; limit news/media that disturbs without informing; build regular stillness into each day.

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The Virtues

What Is Tranquility? Franklin's Eleventh Virtue on Inner Peace

Be not disturbed at trifles. Learn what the Stoics taught about ataraxia and the dichotomy of control.

9 min read

•

January 26, 2026

In a world of constant notifications, breaking news, and manufactured urgency, Benjamin Franklin's eleventh virtue—Tranquility—offers a radical alternative: inner peace preserved against external chaos.

Franklin's tranquility closely parallels Stoic philosophy. Both teach that serenity comes not from controlling circumstances but from controlling our reactions to them.

Key Takeaways

Franklin defined tranquility as: "Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
It distinguishes between trifles (small annoyances) and inevitable accidents (unavoidable misfortunes)
The Stoics called this ataraxia—freedom from emotional disturbance
Key insight: most disturbances aren't worth being disturbed about

What Did Benjamin Franklin Say About Tranquility?

"Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
— Benjamin Franklin

Two categories of things not to be disturbed by: trifles (minor annoyances) and common/unavoidable accidents (inevitable difficulties). Together, these cover most of what disturbs us.

The Ancient Wisdom on Tranquility

Marcus Aurelius: The Inner Citadel

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."
— Marcus Aurelius

Epictetus: The Dichotomy of Control

"Some things are within our power, while others are not."
— Epictetus, Enchiridion

Focus on what you can control (your judgments, reactions, choices). Accept what you cannot (external events, others' behavior). This division is the foundation of Stoic tranquility.

Seneca: On Tranquility of Mind

Seneca wrote an entire treatise De Tranquillitate Animi on achieving peace of mind—reducing desires, accepting fate, and maintaining equanimity through adversity.

Buddha: Equanimity

The Buddhist concept of upekkha (equanimity) parallels Franklin's tranquility—a balanced state of mind undisturbed by pleasure or pain, gain or loss.

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?

Practical Categories

Franklin's "trifles" and "unavoidable accidents" give practical categories for daily life. Traffic delays? Trifle. Health challenges? Unavoidable accident. Neither deserves disturbance.

The Test of Disturbance

Every frustration can be tested: Is this a trifle? Is this unavoidable? If yes to either, practicing tranquility means choosing peace over disturbance.

Tranquility in the Modern World

The Anxiety Economy

Modern media profits from disturbing you. Breaking news, outrage content, fear-inducing headlines—all designed to make you unsettled. Tranquility requires limiting exposure to manufactured disturbance.