Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography revolves around his dedication to self-improvement in his quest to become a successful "self-made” man. Living in a time of vast scientific developments and philosophical debates, Franklin depicts his commitment to continuous self-improvement and autodidacticism as the key to his success. Franklin, who was born into a lower economic class, develops a passion for evolving his productivity skills and a code of morals. He aims to continuously work on these skills and better them throughout his daily life.

Franklin’s dedication to mastering his list of 13 virtues illustrates his belief that self-improvement must be approached in a strict and systematic way. Franklin sets out on the “Execution of [a] Plan for Self-examination” (84). The process of his “Self-examination” requires him to not only acknowledge his “Faults” but also work to find “the Satisfaction of seeing them Diminish” (84). When a Quaker friend criticizes Franklin for his “Pride,” Franklin recognizes the need to practice “Humility” (87). He admits to being “overbearing” and “insolent” when in debates or conversation with other people, so the decision to self-reflect and practice humility reflects how his concept of the self-made man requires constant evolution and the willingness to accept critique. In this way, Franklin depicts his social and political success as intrinsically tied to his self-discipline in cultivating his virtues.