The Speckled Ax

Benjamin Franklin’s parable about the diminishing returns of perfectionism and the seductive pull of “good enough.” Struggling and relapsing on the Thirteen Virtues (specifically Order), Franklin compared himself to a man who:

bought an ax and wanted its whole surface ground as bright as the edge. The smith agreed — if the buyer would turn the grinding wheel. Turning it was exhausting work, and the man kept stopping to check progress. Eventually he decided to take the ax as it was. “‘Turn on, turn on,’” said the smith, “‘we shall have it bright by-and-by; as yet, it is only speckled.’” “‘Yes,’” says the man, “‘but I think I like a speckled ax best.’”

The point cuts two ways: it’s a rationalization for quitting before completion (Motivated Reasoning), and an honest acknowledgment that a “speckled” character — improved but imperfect — may be all most people will actually pay the price to achieve.

Related concepts

• Benjamin Franklin — author of the parable; told as part of his account of failing to keep Order among his virtues.
• Thirteen Virtues — the self-improvement program Franklin was relapsing on when he reached for the ax analogy.
• Motivated Reasoning — the “speckled ax” doubles as a rationalization for quitting before completion.

Where this appears

• The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin