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

“与恶习作战，与邻里友好相处，在新的一年变得更加优秀。”——本杰明·富兰克林

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. He cultivated productive habits

他养成了有效的习惯

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. He took risks

他愿意冒险

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. He perfected his public image

他为自己树立良好的公众形象

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. He was a champion of the common person

他是芸芸众生中的佼佼者

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.

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. 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. He knew how to network

他懂得怎样活络交际

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.

富兰克林无论到哪都能结交到朋友和业务伙伴。他不是怕羞之人，很擅长与人交往。传记作家沃尔特·艾萨克森评价富兰克林说：“他拥有令人愉快的本领，能够和任何人自在相处，不论那人是爱争论的小贩还是富有的商人……他最有魅力的性格就是他的气场。” 这一气场是他个人及业务发展的巨大财富。

7. He was a creative thinker

他是个创意思考的人

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:

富兰克林可不是陷在条条框框里思考的人。在他看来，创新就是发现问题所在，然后努力找到最好的解决办法。以下是他的部分发明与发现：

The Franklin Stove

富兰克林火炉

The first library

第一座图书馆

Electricity

电

Lightning rod

避雷针

Glass harmonica

水晶口琴

8. He learned how to prioritize his time

他懂得如何优化时间

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.

从每天早上5:00起床的日程安排中，富兰克林设法最大化提高自己的白天效率。他说：“不要浪费时间，随时做有用的事情，杜绝任何不必要的行为。”也就是说，为了提高工作效率，我们应该尽可能利用并优化时间。

9. He was frugal

他很节俭

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.

“富兰克林十三美德”中，有一条就是“俭朴”。他认为不欠债不乱花钱非常重要。他说：“省一分钱就等于挣一分钱。”“如果欠债，那说明你又失去了一份自由。”若想过上富有成效的生活，就应该避免被债务压垮。