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.
Here’s what I think each of these mean:
Temperance: Eat not to dullness. Drink not to elevation.
Don’t get fat. Don’t get drunk. Learn to stop when you’re full.
Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.
It’s the old sayings – “Listen more than you talk.” and ‘There’s a reason God gave you two ears but only one mouth.’ I know I ramble too much, and I try to do better about listening, or rather asking questions THEN listening.
Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.
Give important things the time they deserve. Give unimportant/less-important things less time. Don’t steal team from something important because you want to do something unimportant.
Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.
Be committed – or, commit to doing the things you know you should. Then, when you commit, make sure to do those things.
Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. waste nothing.
Most people connect ‘frugality’ to money. I think your help, your time, or maybe just your smile towards someone is worth a lot when they need it. And if someone asks for help, offer it willingly if at all possible. Make the time and you’ll become a better person.
Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.
Get rid of TV, social media, and video games. They are all a huge time-suck. You don’t need to build City Hall, but try to do something constructive as often as possible. You’ll have many things to show for it at the end of a week, month, year, or life.
Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
Sometimes you do need to warn people about those with bad behaviors who are untrustworthy, lazy, or evil. Just be honest. But more often, speak well of people and boost others… especially when they aren’t around. Your kind words can lead to more than just good feelings – and not just for them, but for you, and those you tell.
Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
Be honest in all your dealings and practice truthfulness and integrity in every thought, word, and action.
Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
Just like not getting fat or drunk… but ‘all things in moderation’. Or as Mary Poppins put it – “Enough is as good as a feast”.
Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes or habitation.
Clean up after yourself. Keep a tidy home. Be presentable to others and they won’t notice or judge your clothes – but if you’re dirty, they WILL notice.
Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
Don’t get upset at things you can’t control. It’s not worth your energy. You likely won’t even remember in a day… or two. And try to pass on that trait to others, that most things aren’t worth the worry and anger you allow to control you.
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.
Have a family. Several children if possible. Don’t waste your life on ultimately ungratifying pleasures. You’ll be happier in the long-run.
Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Read the Bible. And read what others wrote about Socrates (since he didn’t write any books.) Just be good and thoughtful in this life.
