Why Was Benjamin Franklin a Vegetarian in His Youth?

January 13, 2026 •

4 min read

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin noted that he began a vegetable-only diet at the age of 16 after reading a book by Thomas Tryon. This youthful experiment with vegetarianism was motivated by a combination of practical factors, intellectual goals, and ethical considerations.

Quick Summary

Benjamin Franklin adopted a vegetarian diet as a teenager, driven by a desire for frugality to save money for books, a belief in the health benefits of simple eating, and an early ethical stance against eating meat. The practice was not permanent and varied throughout his life, though the principles influenced his broader philosophy of temperance and self-improvement.

Key Points

Frugality: Franklin first adopted a vegetable diet as a teenager to save money, using the surplus funds to buy books and further his education.
Intellectual Clarity: He believed that a lighter, plant-based diet and drinking only water led to a "greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension," improving his study habits.
Ethical Influence: Franklin was influenced by the ethical arguments of early vegetarian advocates like Thomas Tryon and Philadelphia Quakers, at one point calling meat-eating "unprovok'd murder".
Inconsistent Practice: His vegetarianism was not permanent and was abandoned during a sea voyage when he rationalized eating fish by observing that fish eat each other.
A Tool for Self-Improvement: Franklin's experiment was part of his larger commitment to self-discipline and temperance, a virtue he aimed to master throughout his life.
Focus on Moderation: Though he stopped being a strict vegetarian, his early experiences solidified a lifelong philosophy of eating to live, not living to eat, and practicing moderation.

Benjamin Franklin's Early Exploration of Vegetarianism

As a young apprentice printer in 1722, the 16-year-old Benjamin Franklin embarked on a significant dietary change after reading a book by English vegetarian writer Thomas Tryon. This shift wasn't a modern health trend but a deeply personal decision rooted in several core motivations: frugality, self-improvement, and ethical principles. Franklin's autobiography provides a detailed account of this period, explaining how these different factors intertwined to shape his approach to food.

The Economic and Intellectual Drive for a Plant-Based Diet

For a young, ambitious Benjamin Franklin, money was a limited resource, and he saw his diet as a way to maximize his intellectual pursuits. He quickly realized that refusing meat and consuming only a vegetable diet could save him a significant amount of his boarding costs. In his own words, he “presently found that I could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for buying books”. This financial discipline was an early step in his lifelong commitment to frugality, a virtue he later famously promoted.

Beyond just saving money, Franklin also believed his simplified diet brought about intellectual benefits. His meals often consisted of simple fare like bread, biscuits, raisins, or tarts, which he would quickly finish, giving him more time to read and study. This practice, combined with a water-only beverage choice, led him to observe a "greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension" that he attributed to his newfound temperance. He was convinced that a lighter, plant-based meal did not dull the mind as much as a heavy, meat-filled one.

The Ethical and Philosophical Considerations

Franklin's vegetarianism wasn't solely based on practical concerns; it also involved moral and ethical reflections. His autobiography reveals that he initially felt a strong ethical conviction against eating meat, considering the "taking every fish as a kind of unprovok'd murder". These early principles were likely influenced by his contact with Quakers in Philadelphia, such as Benjamin Lay, who were known for their ethical stances against animal suffering.

However, Franklin's adherence to a strictly meat-free diet wasn't absolute. While on a sea voyage from Boston, he observed a fish being prepared for dinner. When the fish's stomach was opened, smaller fish were found inside. This observation prompted a convenient piece of reasoning. As Franklin recounted, he thought, "if you eat one another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you". He acknowledged the self-serving nature of this logic, joking that it's convenient to be a "reasonable creature" because it allows one to rationalize any desired action. This story illustrates the tension between his philosophical principles and his practical desires.

Franklin's Fluctuating Approach to Diet

Franklin's vegetarianism was not a permanent lifestyle but rather an on-and-off practice throughout his life. His diet adapted to his circumstances, especially as his social standing grew. Later in life, he participated in many lavish meals as a diplomat and public figure, but the core principles of temperance and moderation remained a part of his philosophy. He famously advised people to "eat to live and not live to eat," a reflection of his early commitment to disciplined eating.

Franklin's dietary evolution reflects a pragmatic approach to life rather than a rigid ideology. His initial foray into vegetarianism was a tool for personal and financial improvement, grounded in both ethical sentiment and practical logic. This experiment helped him develop a life-long discipline that extended far beyond his food choices.

A Comparison of Franklin's Early vs. Later Diet


Aspect	Early Vegetarian Diet (age 16)	Later Diet (after abandoning strict vegetarianism)
Primary Motivation	Frugality, self-improvement, intellectual clarity, ethical convictions	Temperance, moderation, social necessity
Common Foods	Bread, biscuits, raisins, tarts, hasty pudding, boiled potatoes	Included meat (especially fish), along with vegetables like potatoes and fruits like apples
Beverages	Exclusively water	Water, but also wine and champagne, especially when socializing in France
Meals	Simple, quick repasts consumed alone to maximize study time	More varied meals, often in social settings
Ethical Stance	Initially considered meat-eating "unprovok'd murder"	Rationalized meat-eating based on observation of animals
Overall Philosophy	Emphasized strict self-discipline and austerity	Advocated for moderation rather than extreme abstinence

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Franklin's Experiment

Although Benjamin Franklin's period of strict vegetarianism was temporary and inconsistent, it was a formative experience that deeply influenced his character and philosophy. His reasons for adopting the diet—frugality, intellectual enhancement, and a nascent ethical awareness—reveal the pragmatic yet principled mindset that drove many of his pursuits. The experiment was a cornerstone in his broader project of self-improvement and the cultivation of his "thirteen virtues," with Temperance being the first. Franklin's journey from ethical conviction to pragmatic rationalization shows a complex, human approach to personal ideals. Ultimately, the lessons he learned about discipline and temperance from his time as a young vegetarian continued to shape his life, even as his diet evolved with his circumstances.

For more insight into Franklin's personal life and philosophical ideas, his Autobiography is a primary source document.

Frequently Asked Questions

During his period of vegetarianism, Franklin consumed simple foods such as bread, biscuits, raisins, tarts, and boiled potatoes. He drank only water and avoided meat, including fish, for a time.

No, Benjamin Franklin was not a lifelong vegetarian. He practiced it primarily during his teenage years and returned to it only occasionally later in life. He eventually abandoned a strict plant-based diet.

At age 16, Franklin read a book by English writer Thomas Tryon advocating a vegetable-only diet. This book prompted his initial decision to try vegetarianism, which aligned with his desires for frugality and self-improvement.

Franklin stopped being a strict vegetarian after a sea voyage during which he was tempted by the smell of fried cod. He rationalized eating the fish by observing that it had eaten smaller fish, concluding that if fish eat one another, humans could eat them too.

His vegetarian experiment highlights Franklin's pragmatic, frugal, and intellectually curious nature. It shows his commitment to self-discipline and his ability to adapt his principles based on practical circumstances, as he did with his philosophical justifications for eating meat again.

Yes, even after abandoning strict vegetarianism, Franklin continued to emphasize moderation and temperance in his eating and drinking throughout his life. He believed in controlling one's appetite to ensure a clear mind.

Franklin saved a significant amount of money by avoiding the more expensive meat and boarding costs associated with it. He reinvested this money into buying books, accelerating his self-education.