Paying Too Much for the Whistle
My son was very glum last night. I made him even more glum when I gave him a letter Benjamin Franklin once wrote and asked him to read it. Here's an excerpt- I hope you've seen it before:
"...When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.
As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.
When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, this man gives too much for his whistle.
When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, "He pays, indeed," said I, "too much for his whistle."
If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, "Poor man," said I, "you pay too much for your whistle."
When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, "Mistaken man," said I, "you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle."
If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, "Alas!" say I, "he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle."
When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, "What a pity," say I, "that she should pay so much for a whistle!"
In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.
I can think of many whistles for which I have given too much- a chest of drawers costing a couple hundred dollars and worth about ten, and boxes of free books that cost me more in time and back ache than they were worth. Sometimes free is too much for a whistle, sometimes.... well, I have another book I paid 25.00 for at a time when I never paid more than five dollars for any book, and it was completely worth it to me. Because I spent that money on that book at that time, it subsequently became an online etext and then an enterprising family reprinted it. It was well worth it, though I never got a penny for it.
What are some of your whistles?
Wondering why my son needed to read this?
Benjamin Franklin's the Art of Virtue: His Formula for Successful Living
The Way to Wealth: To which is added: The Whistle & The Advantages of Drunkenness
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4 Responses to “Paying Too Much for the Whistle”
June 4th, 2010 at 6:44 am
I’ve never read or heard this before. I think it’s interesting, too, that sometimes we assume that instant gratification, debt, wanting things that we shouldn’t want and other problems are new to our present culture. Yes, things are different now, but this is human nature. We can learn from the choices of others, past and present, if we choose to.
June 5th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I have never read or heard this either. Thank you for printing it.
June 7th, 2010 at 6:18 pm
golly, i think my mother had to be related to ole ben franklin…she could have written that!
June 10th, 2010 at 11:29 am
I never heard that. I know a bunch of Adults who might benefit from this….Well maybe they wont…..*SIGH* We live in such a throw away society and gadget laden society.
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