“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.” –Benjamin Franklin

“與惡習作戰，與鄰里友好相處，在新的一年變得更加優秀。”——本杰明·富蘭克林

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most beloved founding fathers in the United States. Maybe it was his famous twinkling eyes, or maybe it was his ease with people. Regardless, he embodied several characteristics that inevitably led to his success during his lifetime.

本杰明·富蘭克林是美國最受愛戴的國父之一。這或許是因為他那雙智慧的眼睛，抑或是因為他的隨和個性。不管怎樣，他所擁有的品質為他贏得了終生成就。

1. He cultivated productive habits

他養成了有效的習慣

Famously known for his 13 virtues, in which he organized a 13-week plan focusing on one of his thirteen virtues of temperance, silence, order, resolution, frugality, industry, sincerity, justice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility, chastity, and humility, Benjamin Franklin not only implemented important moral goals, but also found ways to hold himself accountable by marking his own progress. In addition, he formed a time table schedule that had his day planned from the time he rose at 5am until he went to bed at 10pm.

在著名的“富蘭克林十三美德”中，他總結了13條周目標：節制、寡言、有序、決心、儉樸、勤勉、誠懇、公正、適度、清潔、鎮靜、貞潔和謙遜。本杰明·富蘭克林不僅踐行了這些道德目標，還通過記錄自己的進步來保證言出必行。此外，他還制定了一張時間表，將他從5:00起床到10:00就寢間的時間規劃出來。

2. He took risks

他愿意冒險

Ben Franklin was by no means a cautious man. Famously known for writing letters in the name of “Silence Goodall” while working at his brother’s printshop, he also ran away to Philadelphia after his brother began to abuse him, ultimately running a successful print store.

富蘭克林絕不是謹小慎微之人。最廣為人知的事例就是，當他在哥哥的印刷店工作時，曾用筆名“沉默行善者”撰寫文章;而且，因為受不了哥哥的虐待，他干脆跑到了費城，但這一出走卻使他后來成功經營了一家印刷店。

3. He perfected his public image

他為自己樹立良好的公眾形象

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin states that he “took care not only to be in reality industrious and frugal, but to avoid all appearances of the contrary.” In the words of Jonathan Yardley, Benjamin Franklin was “a self-created and self-willed man who moved through life at a calculated pace toward calculated ends.” He knew that the opinions of others mattered, and the importance of being able to network.

在自傳中，本杰明·富蘭克林寫道他“不僅實際地做到勤勉節儉，而且還避免出現任何不利的公眾形象”。用喬納森·亞德里的話來說，本杰明·富蘭克林是一個“自我經營、自我激勵的人，在生活中以計劃好的步伐走向計劃中的成果”。他懂得尊重他人看法，也知道交際的重要性。

4. He was a champion of the common person

他是蕓蕓眾生中的佼佼者

Never identifying with the elite, throughout his life Franklin identified himself as “B. Franklin, printer.” A strong believer in the power of community, he not only organized meetings and founded a library for his fellow citizens, but he also believed that pouring into “the common good” had a divine element. He is quoted stating: “To pour forth benefits to the common good is divine.” In other words, common people can find transcendence in giving back to their own community.

終其一生，富蘭克林從不認為自己是精英，而是自詡為“印刷工富蘭克林”。作為社區里的中堅信仰者，他不僅組織會議、為市民創建圖書館，還堅信投入公共福利是一件高尚的事。他說：“讓公眾受益是高尚的。”也就是說，普通人能從回饋自己的社區中得到升華。

5. He was an early riser

他是早起型的人

Famously quoted saying, “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” Benjamin Franklin rose at 5am every morning, asking himself the question “what good shall I do today?”

俗話說：“早睡早起使人健康、富有且智慧。”本杰明·富蘭克林每天早上5:00就起床了，同時還會自問“今天我能做什么善事”。

6. He knew how to network

他懂得怎樣活絡交際

Ben Franklin made friends and business connections everywhere he went. Never a shy man, he had a way with people. Walter Isaacson, a biographer, says of Franklin: “he had a happy talent of being at ease in almost any company, from scrappy tradesmen to wealthy merchants…His most notable trait was his personal magnetism.” This personal magnetism was a huge asset to him in both his business and personal endeavors.

富蘭克林無論到哪都能結交到朋友和業務伙伴。他不是怕羞之人，很擅長與人交往。傳記作家沃爾特·艾薩克森評價富蘭克林說：“他擁有令人愉快的本領，能夠和任何人自在相處，不論那人是愛爭論的小販還是富有的商人……他最有魅力的性格就是他的氣場。” 這一氣場是他個人及業務發展的巨大財富。

7. He was a creative thinker

他是個創意思考的人

Ben Franklin was definitely not one to think inside the box. He is quoted saying, “to create, we must first identify the problem, then offer the best solution possible.” To mention a few, some of his inventions and discoveries include:

富蘭克林可不是陷在條條框框里思考的人。在他看來，創新就是發現問題所在，然后努力找到最好的解決辦法。以下是他的部分發明與發現：

The Franklin Stove

富蘭克林火爐

The first library

第一座圖書館

Electricity

電

Lightning rod

避雷針

Glass harmonica

水晶口琴

8. He learned how to prioritize his time

他懂得如何優化時間

From his daily hourly schedule to rising at 5am every morning, Ben Franklin found ways to maximize his daily productivity. He is quoted saying: “Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” In other words, make the best use of your time and find ways to prioritize, in order to produce your best work possible.

從每天早上5:00起床的日程安排中，富蘭克林設法最大化提高自己的白天效率。他說：“不要浪費時間，隨時做有用的事情，杜絕任何不必要的行為。”也就是說，為了提高工作效率，我們應該盡可能利用并優化時間。

9. He was frugal

他很節儉

Ben Franklin included frugality as one of his 13 virtues. He realized the importance of living debt-free and spending minimally. He is quoted saying, “a penny saved is a penny earned” and “when you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty.” In order to live a productive life, it is helpful to not be plagued by the stress of debt.

“富蘭克林十三美德”中，有一條就是“儉樸”。他認為不欠債不亂花錢非常重要。他說：“省一分錢就等于掙一分錢。”“如果欠債，那說明你又失去了一份自由。”若想過上富有成效的生活，就應該避免被債務壓垮。