How to Achieve Perfection: The Benjamin Franklin Approach

“Practice makes perfect, but nobody's perfect, so why practice?” 

― Kurt Cobain

This has become a famous quote and a famous EXCUSE.

It is a statement meant for humor but has become widely used as a go-to excuse for mediocrity.

Yes, it is true that nobody's perfect and perfection is an impossible feat that to attempt at it would be crazy. But what's crazier is to believe that it's not worth attempting at all. They say "why practice?" but I say, "why not?"

Perfection is not a state where it ends when we can say, "I am perfect!" nor simply a destination. To be perfect means you commit to a lifelong pursuit of it. You are in it not solely for what you will become but mainly for the amazing journey towards moral perfection. If we talk about math, perfection is like an asymptote. It is something that we get closer and closer to but we never really touches it or achieve it.

Let us learn from one of the founding fathers of America. He wrote in his memoirs at age seventy-eight,

"On the whole, tho' I never arrived at the Perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of  it, yet I was by the Endeavor a better and a happier Man than I otherwise should have been, if I had not attempted at it." 

Benjamin Franklin is a man of many talents. He is a leading author, inventor, political theorist, postmaster, scientist, musician, satirist, civic activist, statesman and a diplomat. He is a legendary and a great man because at age twenty-two years old, barely out of his teen years, he had the audacity to endeavor the "bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection."

We may not become the next Franklins because there will never be one like him but I am convinced that at the end of our lives, we will be better, happier and wiser because we heeded Franklin's call to be as ambitious and aim for perfection.

In Hyrum W. Smith's book, "The 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management," he included a list of Benjamin Franklin's 13 guidelines or "virtues" towards moral perfection.

• 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; that is, 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 has already given us a head start. Here's how Benjamin Franklin did it: 

1. He identified his guidelines, values and virtues.
2. He organized his life into thirteen weekly cycles. Each week is dedicated to one virtue and he would focus mentally to align his actions with his values.

It was two steps. Let us come up with our own list and let us resolve to live our lives according to our list. If we live the same way Franklin did, it is without a doubt that we can call it a full life.