Ben Franklin Autobiography

Franklin's list of 13 virtues is a very good example of how he was a Rationalist. His list includes in decent detail a basis for one to obtain moral strength. This is very Rationalistic in that it provides Earthly means to perfect oneself, instead of employing prayer and blind faith like the Puritans.

A good example of this philosophy is this:

"I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct."