Character defined

“Character is built into the spiritual fabric of personality hour by hour, day by day, year by year in much the same deliberate way that physical health is built into the body.” – E. Lamar Kincaid

In his late twenties, Benjamin Franklin documented thirteen virtues that he felt were an important guide for living. Along with each virtue, Franklin included a principle to follow that defines a person of good character. Ron Kurtus, the founder of School for Champions, once said: “These virtues can be divided into those related to personal behavior (temperance, order, resolution, frugality, moderation, industry, cleanliness, and tranquility) and those related to social character traits (sincerity, justice, silence, chastity, and humility).” Franklin tried to follow these guides in his life, although he often went astray and full-out failed. No one is perfect. These thirteen virtues imply that you must be extremely disciplined and hardworking. But it’s also okay to mess up and start again.

Franklin wrote each one of the virtues on a separate page in a book that he reviewed at the end of each day. He focused on one virtue each week.

Each blog post will focus on a new virtue or character trait that you can review in your life.