BenjaminFranklinisoneofthemostbelovedfoundingfathersintheUnitedStates.Maybeitwashisfamoustwinklingeyes,ormaybeitwashiseasewithpeople.Regardless,heembodiedseveralcharacteristicsthatinevitablyledtohissuccessduringhislifetime.

　　本杰明·富兰克林是美国最受爱戴的国父之一.这或许是因为他那双智慧的眼睛,抑或是因为他的随和个性.不管怎样,他所拥有的品质为他赢得了终生成就.

　　1.Hecultivatedproductivehabits

　　他养成了有效的习惯

　　Famouslyknownforhis13virtues,inwhichheorganizeda13-weekplanfocusingononeofhisthirteenvirtuesoftemperance,silence,order,resolution,frugality,industry,sincerity,justice,moderation,cleanliness,tranquility,chastity,andhumility,BenjaminFranklinnotonlyimplementedimportantmoralgoals,butalsofoundwaystoholdhimselfaccountablebymarkinghisownprogress.Inaddition,heformedatimetableschedulethathadhisdayplannedfromthetimeheroseat5amuntilhewenttobedat10pm.

　　在著名的“富兰克林十三美德”中,他总结了13条周目标：节制、寡言、有序、决心、俭朴、勤勉、诚恳、公正、适度、清洁、镇静、贞洁和谦逊.本杰明·富兰克林不仅践行了这些道德目标,还通过记录自己的进步来保证言出必行.此外,他还制定了一张时间表,将他从5:00起床到10:00就寝间的时间规划出来.

　　2.Hetookrisks

　　他愿意冒险

　　BenFranklinwasbynomeansacautiousman.Famouslyknownforwritinglettersinthenameof“SilenceGoodall”whileworkingathisbrother’sprintshop,healsoranawaytoPhiladelphiaafterhisbrotherbegantoabusehim,ultimatelyrunningasuccessfulprintstore.

　　富兰克林绝不是谨小慎微之人.最广为人知的事例就是,当他在哥哥的印刷店工作时,曾用笔名“沉默行善者”撰写文章；而且,因为受不了哥哥的虐待,他干脆跑到了费城,但这一出走却使他后来成功经营了一家印刷店.

　　3.Heperfectedhispublicimage

　　他为自己树立良好的公众形象

　　Inhisautobiography,BenjaminFranklinstatesthathe“tookcarenotonlytobeinrealityindustriousandfrugal,buttoavoidallappearancesofthecontrary.”InthewordsofJonathanYardley,BenjaminFranklinwas“aself-createdandself-willedmanwhomovedthroughlifeatacalculatedpacetowardcalculatedends.”Heknewthattheopinionsofothersmattered,andtheimportanceofbeingabletonetwork.

　　在自传中,本杰明·富兰克林写道他“不仅实际地做到勤勉节俭,而且还避免出现任何不利的公众形象”.用乔纳森·亚德里的话来说,本杰明·富兰克林是一个“自我经营、自我激励的人,在生活中以计划好的步伐走向计划中的成果”.他懂得尊重他人看法,也知道交际的重要性.

　　4.Hewasachampionofthecommonperson

　　他是芸芸众生中的佼佼者

　　Neveridentifyingwiththeelite,throughouthislifeFranklinidentifiedhimselfas“B.Franklin,printer.”Astrongbelieverinthepowerofcommunity,henotonlyorganizedmeetingsandfoundedalibraryforhisfellowcitizens,buthealsobelievedthatpouringinto“thecommongood”hadadivineelement.Heisquotedstating:“Topourforthbenefitstothecommongoodisdivine.”Inotherwords,commonpeoplecanfindtranscendenceingivingbacktotheirowncommunity.

　　终其一生,富兰克林从不认为自己是精英,而是自诩为“印刷工富兰克林”.作为社区里的中坚信仰者,他不仅组织会议、为市民创建图书馆,还坚信投入公共福利是一件高尚的事.他说：“让公众受益是高尚的.”也就是说,普通人能从回馈自己的社区中得到升华.

　　5.Hewasanearlyriser

　　他是早起型的人

　　Famouslyquotedsaying,“earlytobedandearlytorisemakesamanhealthy,wealthy,andwise,”BenjaminFranklinroseat5ameverymorning,askinghimselfthequestion“whatgoodshallIdotoday?”

　　俗话说：“早睡早起使人健康、富有且智慧.”本杰明·富兰克林每天早上5:00就起床了,同时还会自问“今天我能做什么善事”.

　　6.Heknewhowtonetwork

　　他懂得怎样活络交际

　　BenFranklinmadefriendsandbusinessconnectionseverywherehewent.Neverashyman,hehadawaywithpeople.WalterIsaacson,abiographer,saysofFranklin:“h