Too Dear for the Whistle

As i grew up , came into the world, and observed the actions of men, i thought i met with many, who “gave too much for the whistle.”When i saw some men too eager for court favour, wasting his time at court gathering, giving up his rest, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, for royal favour, i said to myself --“This is man gives too much for the whistle.”When i saw another fond of popularity, constantly taking part in political affairs, neglecting his own business, and ruining it by neglect, “He pays, indeed,”said i ,“too dear for his whistle.”

If i knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfotable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citizens and the joys of friendship, for the sake of gathering and keeping weath --“Poor man ,”said i ,“you pay too dear for your whistle.”When i met a man of pleasure, who did not try to improve his mind or his fortune but merely devoted himself to having a good time, perhaps neglecting his health,“Mistaken man,”said i ,“you are providing pain for yourself , instead of pleasure : you are paying too dear for your whistle.”If i saw someone fond of appearance who had fine clothes, fine house, fine furniture, fine earnings, all above his fortune, and for which he had run into debt,“Alas,”said i ,“he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.” In short the miseries of mankind are largely due to their putting a false value on things to giving “too much for their whistle”.

                                           ---part of the <Too Dear for the Whistle> by Benjamin Franklin