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voyages and business abroad； with a multiplicity of affairs that interfered；
but I always carried my little book with me。
My scheme of ORDER gave me the most trouble； and I found that；
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tho' it might be practicable where a man's business was such as to leave
him the disposition of his time； that of a journeyman printer； for instance；
it was not possible to be exactly observed by a master； who must mix with
the world； and often receive people of business at their own hours。 Order；
too； with regard to places for things； papers； etc。； I found extreamly
difficult to acquire。 I had not been early accustomed to it； and； having an
exceeding good memory； I was not so sensible of the inconvenience
attending want of method。 This article； therefore； cost me so much painful
attention； and my faults in it vexed me so much； and I made so little
progress in amendment； and had such frequent relapses； that I was almost
ready to give up the attempt； and content myself with a faulty character in
that respect； like the man who； in buying an ax of a smith； my neighbour；
desired to have the whole of its surface as bright as the edge。 The smith
consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel； he turn'd；
while the smith press'd the broad face of the ax hard and heavily on the
stone； which made the turning of it very fatiguing。 The man came every
now and then from the wheel to see how the work went on； and at length
would take his ax as it was； without farther grinding。 〃No；〃 said the smith；
〃turn on； turn on； we shall have it bright by…and…by； as yet； it is only
speckled。〃 〃Yes；〃 said the man； 〃but I think I like a speckled ax best。〃 And
I believe this may have been the case with many； who； having； for want of
some such means as I employ'd； found the difficulty of obtaining good and
breaking bad habits in other points of vice and virtue； have given up the
struggle； and concluded that 〃a speckled ax was best〃； for something； that
pretended to be reason； was every now and then suggesting to me that
such extream nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind of foppery in
morals； which； if it were known； would make me ridiculous； that a perfect
character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and
hated； and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself； to
keep his friends in countenance。
In truth； I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order； and now I
am grown old； and my memory bad； I feel very sensibly the want of it。 But；
on the whole； tho' I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious
of obtaining； but fell far short of it； yet I was； by the endeavour； a better
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and a happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not
attempted it； as those who aim at perfect writing by imitating the engraved
copies； tho' they never reach the wish'd…for excellence of those copies；
their hand is mended by the endeavor； and is tolerable while it continues
fair and legible。
It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little
artifice； with the blessing of God； their ancestor ow'd the constant felicity
of his life； down to his 79th year； in which this is written。 What reverses
may attend the remainder is in the hand of Providence； but； if they arrive；
the reflection on past happiness enjoy'd ought to help his bearing them
with more resignation。 To Temperance he ascribes his long…continued
health； and what is still left to him of a good constitution； to Industry and
Frugality； the early easiness of his circumstances and acquisition of his
fortune； with all that knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen；
and obtained for him some degree of reputation among the learned； to
Sincerity and Justice； the confidence of his country； and the honorable
employs it conferred upon him； and to the joint influence of the whole
mass of the virtues； even in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them；
all that evenness of temper； and that cheerfulness in conversation； which
makes his company still sought for； and agreeable even to his younger
acquaintance。 I hope； therefore； that some of my descendants may follow
the example and reap the benefit。 It will be remark'd that； tho' my scheme
was not wholly without religion； there was in it no mark of any of the
distingishing tenets of any particular sect。 I had purposely avoided them；
for； being fully persuaded of the utility and excellency of my method； and
that it might be serviceable to people in all religions； and intending some
time or other to publish it； I would not have any thing in it that should
prejudice any one； of any sect； against it。 I purposed writing a little
comment on each virtue； in which I would have shown the advantages of
possessing it； and the mischiefs attending its opposite vice； and I should
have called my book THE ART OF VIRTUE； because it would have
shown the means and manner of obtaining virtue； which would have
distinguished it from the mere exhortation to be good； that does not
instruct and indicate the means； but is like the apostle's man of verbal
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charity； who only without showing to the naked and hungry how or where
they might get clothes or victuals； exhorted them to be fed and clothed。
James ii。 15； 16。
Nothing so likely to make a man's fortune as virtue。 ＇Marg。
note。＇
But it so happened that my intention of writing and publishing this
comment was never fulfilled。 I did； indeed； from time to time； put down
short hints of the sentiments； reasonings； etc。； to be made use of in it； some
of which I have still by me； but the necessary close attention to private
business in the earlier part of thy life； and public business since； have
occasioned my postponing it； for； it being connected in my mind with a
great and extensive project； that required the whole man to execute； and
which an unforeseen succession of employs prevented my attending to； it
has hitherto remain'd unfinish'd。
In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this doctrine； that
vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden； but forbidden
because they are hurtful； the nature of man alone considered； that it was；
therefore； every one's interest to be virtuous who wish'd to be happy even
in this world； and I should； from this circumstance （there being always in
the world a number of rich merchants； nobility； states； and princes； who
have need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs； and
such being so rare）； have endeavored to convince young persons that no
qualities were so likely to make a poor man's fortune as those of probity
and integrity。
My list of virtues contain'd at first but twelve； but a Quaker friend
having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud； that my
pride show'd itself frequently in conversation； that I was not content with
being in the right when discussing any point； but was overbearing； and
rather insolent； of which he convinc'd me by mentioning several instances；
I determined endeavouring to cure myself； if I could； of this vice or folly
among the rest； and I added Humility to my list） giving an extensive
meaning to the word。
I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this virtue；
but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance of it。 I made it a rule to
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forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others； and all positive
assertion of my own。 I even forbid myself； agreeably to the old laws of our
Junto； the use of every word or expression in the language that imported a
fix'd opinion； such as certainl