...to me, that such extream Nicety as I exacted of my self might be a kind of Foppery in Morals, which if it were known would make me ridiculous; that a...Faults in himself, to keep his friends in Countenance. Is this thought something that merely pretends to be reason, or is it true reason? Franklin seems to...

...beloved Founding Fathers. A sample of the humor and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin On self-improvement: "A benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance." On the importance of good character: "I grew convinc'd that truth, sincerity, and integrity in dealings...

...suggesting to me that such extreme nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind of foppery in morals which, if it were known, would make me ridiculous ; that...now I am grown old and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it. But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious...