Tukerman's review

Based on Tuckerman's review of Franklin I think that Tuckerman respected Franklin and thought he had good ideas. He thought Franklin was wise and agreed with his views. Tuckerman understood Franklin's virtues and thought they were practical or not too much to ask for. Even thought Franklin may disagree with that statement. Tuckerman thought that Franklin really thought out his ideas and was very smart. Tuckerman believed that the virtues would be really hard to follow, though. They were simple thoughts but hard to pull off. The ideas could be done. You would have to add them into your life gradually because it would be a challenge to pull off. People would have to make sacrifices to be able to follow the virtues exactly. People would have to sacrifice a lot of time and other things that they do that go against the virtues. But, Tuckerman believes that anybody would be able to follow Franklin's virtues. They are easy to understand so people could do it. If people wanted to have a better life and be a good person they should follows these virtues. But, he doesn't believe that everybody will follow these virtues though. People who give up easily would not be able to pull it off. They are hard so everybody won't be able to do it. Franklin tried to do all of the virtues at once. This was a huge challenge. He found it nearly impossible to keep up all the virtues at once. If he achieved one virtue he would forget about another. It was almost impossible so he didn't expect for everyone to do these virtues. He thought it would be good for people to try the virtues but knew it would be hard and didn't expect for everyone to try them. Even if people did try to live by the virtues he didn't expect for people to be able to do every single one. Franklin believed they could shake things up. He thought it would be good if people made their own virtues. He thought it would be good for people to try other things to live a good life and having Franklin's virtues inspire them. If people made their own virtues and lived a good life with them then hey, that is pretty awesome. Franklin just wanted people to be inspired by the virtues and not live by them and have them be all they think about. Even Franklin did not only focus on the virtues since he couldn't keep them all going at once. A different set of virtues could be easier to do and a more practical set of things for people to follow. But, Franklin was clearly a busy man. He had a lot of things going for him and had more great ideas other than his virtues. Just like the average Joe has other things he has to do, too. People would not be able to only think about the virtues when they live an average every day life. Other things would take over their minds before they thought of the virtues.

Franklin, Benjamin, and Leonard Woods Labaree. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. New Haven: Yale UP, 1964. Print.

Tuckerman, Henry T. "The Character of Franklin." Facts on File. Web. 30 Oct. 2011.