Do You Love Truth for Truth’s Sake?

Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was also known as the father of the self-improvement ethic. Franklin understood that any improvement of the self is directly tied to society around us. In other words, as we improve ourselves, we improve our world.

In Franklin’s autobiography, he lists the Thirteen Virtues, which he developed at the age of 20 and implemented in one way or another throughout his life. A few close to my own heart are…



• "Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation." (Virtue #2)
• "Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly." (Virtue #7)
• "Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates." (Virtue #13)

In 1727, at the age of 21, Franklin formed the Leather Apron Club, a group of "like minded aspiring artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community.” [wikipedia: Benjamin Franklin]

The members of the club came together to share ideas and discuss current events. As an initiation to joining, they had to answer a select few questions, one of them being…

Do you love truth for truth’s sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others? 

For Benjamin Franklin, the answer was an unequivocal Yes. For him, seeking truth wasn’t about being right or being victorious. And to become a member of the Leather Apron Club, also known as the Junto, the answer to the question had to be Yes.

What do you feel when hearing the question?

Let me repeat it here for you with emphasis…

Do you love truth for truth’s sake only?

If you can answer yes to this, then, wow, as a community we can really go places! Saying Yes implies that you’re going to keep growing and driving at the very essence of truth. It means that you won’t stop at dogma or media, at educators or friends to locate truth. You will search and discover it for yourself with no distraction, no particular external goal in mind.

Faculty here at Humanity’s Team tell stories of how their lives were impacted by loving truth for truth’s sake. In their Masterclass Forbidden Science, Nassim Haramein and Gregg Braden reveal how when they kept going with truth, they ended up going off the rails with conventional science. When that happened, some colleagues and friends turned their backs on them. Still, they continued on.

In our most recent Masterclass, Discover Your Soul’s Purpose, Michael Bernard Beckwith and Neale Donald Walsch share stories about losing friends and family as they continued on their respective journeys to seek, love, and embody truth.

In her Masterclass, Deep Self Evolution, Barbara Marx-Hubbard tells us about how she left a life of domesticity behind to pursue truth.

Here at Humanity’s Team, it’s our story too. When we commit ourselves to the pursuit of truth with our whole heart, that pursuit sometimes leads to those once close turning away. 

Let’s all walk together with hands on hearts in an expression of loving truth.

Let’s know at the core of our being that we have agreement with one another in the truth that we seek.

And let’s bring in a deep and abiding love for ourselves, for each other, for all of Life.

In Love and Service,

Steve