225-Year-Old Ideas

Laundry (need new machines). One class today (test Monday). Homework (not finished). Work (okay). My first experience with Guitar Hero (I'm bad). Two episodes of the Office (Diversity Day and the Alliance). Sleep (yay).
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I'm reading Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography for one of my classes. Here's a paragraph I liked:

In reality there is perhaps none of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one please, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself. You will see it perhaps often in this History. For even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my Humility.

Also, here is the list of Ben Franklin's virtues. He decided to work on them one at a time, mastering one before moving to another. The last one made me laugh.

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 Places. Let each Part of your Business have its Time.
4. Resolution - Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Industry - Lose no Time. Be always employ'd in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary Actions.
6. 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 Uncleanness in Body, Clothes or Habitation.
11. Tranquility - Be not disturbed at Trifles, or 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.