Melrose Lady Raiders Volleyball: Franklin's Tablet

Study great historical figures to gain life insights. Benjamin Franklin was a legendary thinker.

Here are a few of his accomplishments:

Let's examine his virtue 'stone' tablet:

This is his list of virtues and his interpretation:

Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.
Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. waste nothing.
Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
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.
Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

Franklin joked that he could never achieve humility, "or I would surely be proud of it."

He tracked his progress weekly using the tablet...suffice to say that he fell short in a variety of areas.

Catalog your personal strengths and areas of desired improvement. Track results. "Winners are trackers."

Too complicated? Consider the acronym: THINK about words and deeds

Lagniappe. One-arm dig.

Melrose Lady Raiders Volleyball