In Benjamin Franklin’s Project for Moral Perfection he listed 13 characteristics that he wanted to improve during his lifetime. Yes, he wanted to become perfect. He had trouble with one of them and said:

“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’e me by mentioning several instances; I determined endeavoring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among the rest and I added humility to the rest.”

More about how he fared with conquering this fault of pride perhaps in a later blog. But I want to add the story of another good scientist. George Washington Carver achieved several wonders with the humble peanut. He sometimes shared this story:

“When I was young I said to God, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the universe.’ But God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for Me alone.’ So I said, ‘Then God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ And God said, ‘George, that’s more nearly your size.’ And so He told me.”

What have your heard as your assignment?