Memo
TO: File 307
FROM: Ming Wen
DATE: October 9, 2014
SUBJECT: My Thinking of Virtue
The passage that I had is called the “Modern History Sourcebook: Benjamin Franklin The Art of Virtue.” I found the writing style of this article very unique, in a way that I couldn’t really understand at the first time reading it, especially since English is my second language. I read this passage back and forth for three times, and I still don’t think I fully understand every part of this passage. However, I do really enjoy the main idea of this passage.

This passage is meaningful to me because it talks a lot about a person’s internal quality, which I don’t read much about. The main idea of this passage is that, if one wants to have “Dependence on a steady uniform Rectitude of Conduct,” the “mere speculative conviction” to be virtuous is not enough, one must first throws way his bad habits and acquire good ones.

I like the way how the author tries to clearly describe the Thirteen Names of Virtue. He makes it easier to read and understand. In class, me and my three other fellow classmates went through each virtue and discussed its meaning. We all agreed that these virtues are very importance to a personal’s quality and personality. The author also lists these virtues in arrangement according to his reasoning.

The author’s explanation of each virtue, and how they are connected subsequently is really amazing. He suggests us not to distract ourselves by trying to attempt those virtues “the whole at once,” but to “fix it on one of them at a time.” His comprehension of the virtue “Temperance” really caught my attention.

Temperance first, as it tends to procure that Coolness & Clearness of Head, which is so necessary where constant Vigilance was to be kept up , and Guard maintained, against the unremitting Attraction of ancient Habits, and the Force of perpetual