Concentration Cycles: A Statesman’s Example

Benjamin Franklin  also employed concentration cycles as part of his lifelong self-improvement program. According to his autobiography, he compiled his list of thirteen virtues when he was twenty, and his plan was to attend to each one in true cyclical fashion. He would concentrate on one quality for a week, then go on to the next. In this way, he would concentrate on each quality four times in any given year.

The Latency Effect: The Secret Weapon of Cycles

While he only attended to one quality at a time, the latency effect would keep unattended virtues simmering in his mind on the back burner. The more often he worked through the cycle, the more familiar he would be with all the qualities. Over a period of time, it would be more and more likely that all the virtues would carry some weight in decisions he made, not just the one  highlighted for the week.

Veering from the Challenge

Now comparing this list with Mr. Franklin’s life indicates he veered from these intentions several times. The lesson, of course, is that having set intentions, even written ones, does not guarantee action. Perhaps you consider the “effort” to compile such a listed wasted, unless he followed it completely. I see that he made a relatively simple effort once while young to collate areas of life that were important to him. Having put in that comparatively small amount of effort, time, and thinking, he had a tool he could (and often did) refer to regularly for many years following. Veering off from a worthy goal was his own loss, but does not negate the value in having set the goal.  As you continue “brainstorming” areas of your personal life to put on a cycle, here is Mr. Franklin’s list of thirteen (weekly) virtues:

Benjamin Franklin’s Thirteen Virtues

1. Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order. Let all your things have their place; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i. e., waste nothing.
6. Industry. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Mr. Franklin gave himself quite a challenge did he not? Can you figure out what he was challenging himself to achieve each week? Need to look up any words? How would you explain each of his categories to a teenager? An elementary age student? What if you decided to design your own list: what would you include? Would you be more practical? More operational in your character definitions? What do you think would happen to your life, if you lived through this character cycle a time or two? Would it make any difference to your decision making? Your behavior?