By Douglas V. Gibbs
Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters,” linking self-governance directly to the moral character of its citizens. He was essentially saying that only a godly society could keep itself from descending into violent failure.
Alexis de Tocqueville observed that Americans were deeply involved in their communities intertwining Christianity with liberty and politics. Tocqueville commented that Americans viewed religion as essential for moral guidance in a free society, shaping laws and public life, and fostering associations. Ministers inserted politics into their sermons, while directly staying out of direct politics. Tocqueville noted they combined Christian notions with freedom so closely that one couldn’t conceive of the other, highlighting Christianity’s vital role in American mores and stability. He said regarding his observations, “The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other; and with them this conviction does not spring from that barren traditionary faith which seems to vegetate in the soul rather than to live.”
He recognized that Americans felt this way due to the Christian Moral Foundation of their country. He said, “The more I consider the position of America, the more I see in the Union a thing without example, and I despair of being able to fix the attention of my countrymen on any point which I can present to them in a light which is new to them.”
Christianity and the rule of law were viewed by Americans as being directly linked, as Thomas Jefferson referred to in the Declaration of Independence with his line about the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God. Tocqueville said, “Christianity, which has rendered all men equal before God, will not be loath to see all citizens equal before the law.”
Religion played a vital role in public life even during America’s earliest foundation. Tocqueville wrote, “In the United States, religion never ceases to warm itself at patriotism’s hearth,” and “eternity is only one of their concerns,” as they bring Christianity to the frontier to spread values.
He noted America as the place where Christianity preserved its power over souls, even as religious ministers withdrew from direct political involvement, finding that this ability for Christianity to be involved without being a direct influence, unlike countries with established religions, had a profound effect. The relationship between Christianity and politics in America actually strengthened religion’s influence on public morals and laws.
Benjamin Franklin explained that for a society to be successful, the culture must prioritize virtue in order to maintain liberty. He believed true freedom required resisting ungodly behavior, emphasizing that a lack of virtue inevitably leads to a rise of stronger control.
Virtue, according to Franklin, is a prerequisite for freedom. Liberty isn’t just a right, but a responsibility, requiring citizens to be self-disciplined, public-spirited, and honest.
Corruption and the absence of godly virtues in the culture have damaging consequences. When people become selfish and corrupt, they lose the ability to govern themselves, creating a demand for rulers (masters) to impose order. Franklin’s quote about a virtuous society serves as a warning that liberty isn’t permanent; it must be actively maintained through individual virtue and good behavior.
In Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography he listed “The Thirteen Necessary Virtues.” He viewed these virtues as being character traits considered morally good and valued for their ability to promote individual and societal well-being.
TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Knowing these virtues is like having a map for a long journey and adopting them as road markers along that journey. The journey is not only for ourselves, but for the republic in which we are a part of, as well. Regarding the journey, Franklin advised: “My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg’d it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro’ the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang’d them with that view, as they stand above. Temperance first, as it tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and the force of perpetual temptations. This being acquir’d and establish’d, Silence would be more easy; and my desire being to gain knowledge at the same time that I improv’d in virtue, and considering that in conversation it was obtain’d rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue, and therefore wishing to break a habit I was getting into of prattling, punning, and joking, which only made me acceptable to trifling company, I gave Silence the second place.”
— Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
