“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
一种由B.富兰克林所发明的燃烧木柴的火炉（约在1740年发明），200多年来在边远地区的住宅、农庄和都市的房子都使用过这种炉子。
The first library
第一座图书馆
1790年，美国第一所公共图书馆在马萨诸塞州富兰克林城诞生。1778年，马萨诸塞州立法机关通过一则议案，要求波士顿西南约30公里的一个城镇合并，合并后的城镇被立法机关命名为富兰克林城。美国独立前，很多州都属于英国的殖民地，统称为新英格兰。当时，给殖民地的城镇命名多使用著名的爱国者和政治家的名字。从美国独立战争开始到结束，富兰克林一直担任美国盟军法国的驻法公使，他的名字在整个殖民地家喻户晓，使用他的名字命名城镇再合适不过。1785年，在富兰克林城会议厅建成时，有人建议富兰克林为城镇新建的会议厅捐赠一座钟。富兰克林认真考虑后，认为在一个反对专制、争取自由而艰苦奋斗的国度里，“意识”比“声音”对国民更重要，捐赠一间公共图书馆比捐赠一座会议厅的钟更有意义。于是，他写信委托好朋友普莱斯帮忙选购、寄发图书。普莱斯购买的这批116卷藏书至今仍完好保存在富兰克林成图书馆。1790年11月26日，富兰克林城镇会议投票赞成这批图书供全城居民借阅，决定富兰克林捐赠的这批图书作为美国第一间公共图书馆的藏书开发借阅。而美国第二间公共图书馆是1833年使用州税款建造的彼得伯勒图书馆，位于美国新罕布尔州，比富兰克林城图书馆晚了近半个世纪。因此，富兰克林城图书馆也被称为美国最古老的公共图书馆。
Electricity
电
1752年7月的一天,天空乌云密布,雷电交加.富兰克林在儿子的帮助下,把一只风筝放上了高高的天空.风筝上拴了一根细铁丝,用来吸收云中的“天电”.放风筝的线是用麻绳做的,绳子下端结上一段丝带,在麻绳和丝带的接头处系着一把铜钥匙,富兰克林站在房子里面攥(zuàn)住丝带.风筝越飞越高,远远望去,犹如云海里的一叶小舟,颠簸着,摇晃着.一片乌云掠过风筝上方,富兰克林发现麻绳上的纤维“怒发冲冠”般地竖了起来.这是麻绳带电的信号!突然,一道闪电劈开云层,在天空划了一个“之”字,接着一个炸雷,大雨倾盆而下.麻绳淋湿后就成了能使电流通过的导体.这时,富兰克林用手指靠近铜钥匙,“啪”的一声,骤然闪现一道蓝色的火花,他的手臂一阵发麻.富兰克林欣喜若狂地喊道：“成功了!成功了!我捉住‘天电’了!”
“风筝实验”震惊了世界.它向世人宣告,雷暴只是普普通通的放电现象,“上帝的怒火”不过是无稽之谈.
后来,富兰克林根据放电的原理,发明了避雷针.这样,雷电轰鸣时,高大的建筑物就安然无恙了.
Lightning rod
避雷针
现代避雷针是美国科学家富兰克林发明的.富兰克林认为闪电是一种放电现象.为了证明这一点,他在1752年7月的一个雷雨天,冒着被雷击的危险,将一个系着长长金属导线的风筝放飞进雷雨云中,在金属线末端拴了一串铜钥匙.当雷电发生时,富兰克林手接近钥匙,钥匙上迸出一串电火花.手上还有麻木感.幸亏这次传下来的闪电比较弱,富兰克林没有受伤.此次试验后,富兰克林认为,如果将一根金属棒安置在建筑物质顶部,并且以金属线细连接到地面,那么所有接近建筑物的闪电都会被引导至地面,而不至于损坏建筑物.
富兰克林首先在费城的住宅安装了避雷针,此后避雷针便在世界上流行开了.
Glass harmonica
玻璃琴
玻璃琴是美国著名的科学家、社会活动家、音乐家富兰克林发明的一种乐器，于1761年问世，以意大利文命名为Armonica。富兰克林将发声的单体由高脚杯改为底端有套接孔的碗状玻璃，由大到小依序串接后横卧于琴架，以脚踏板驱动的传动轴上（类似老式缝纫机）；演奏者坐在乐器后方，边踩着踏板，以沾湿的手指碰触玻璃碗的边缘，即可发出如杯琴般的声音。玻璃琴另有Glass Harmonica，德文的Glasharmonika等不同的名称；包括莫扎特、贝多芬在内的音乐家，都曾为玻璃琴谱写专属的作品，小提琴之神帕格尼尼更赞叹道：“这是天堂的声音！”。
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。
(小编：Super hero)
